BMC election result 2017: Shiv Sena should align with us again, says BJP
With the total BMC seats being 227, the magic figure is 114. While Shiv Sena has won 84 seats, BJP has won 82. Hence, Shiv Sena and BJP are short of 30 and 33 seats respectively to reach the majority mark.
In Short
- While Shiv Sena has won 84 seats, BJP has won 82.
- Only Congress, with 31 seats, can help either of the parties.
- BJP has emerged as numero uno party in 8 out of 10 municipal corporations that went to polls.
As neither Shiv Sena nor BJP got majority in the BMC election, the focus now shifts on the possibility - or the lack of it - of an alliance between the two parties which had turned foes from friends for the just concluded Maharashtra polls.
With the total BMC seats being 227, the magic figure is 114. While Shiv Sena has won 84 seats, BJP has won 82. Hence, Shiv Sena and BJP are short of 30 and 33 seats respectively to reach the majority mark.
Only Congress, with 31 seats, can help either of the parties. But will Shiv Sena or BJP align with Congress? There is hardly any room for any speculation.
In such a situation, the two largest parties are likely to come together again to govern Mumbai. They are already in alliance in Maharashtra and at the Centre. They were alliance partners for BMC elections for 20 years since 1997. Hence, it is likely that Shiv Sena would seek BJP's support to run the Maharashtra capital.
BJP's national general secretary in charge of Maharashtra Saroj Pandey said Shiv Sena should align with its traditional partner as the people have voted for this arrangement.
Buoyed with her party's spectacular performance not only in BMC but also in other nine municipal corporations, Pandey said, "BJP is just three seats behind Shiv Sena in BMC. Except Thane, BJP will have its Mayor in all the remaining eight corporations. BJP is in the strongest position. The people have voted in support of BJP. Shiv Sena should consider this aspect."
The BJP has reasons to be upbeat over the final results. It has emerged as the numero uno party in eight out of ten municipal corporations that went to polls. It has toppled Sharad Pawar's NCP in Pune to emerge as the single largest party. Even in BMC, it improved its 2012 election's tally from 31 to 82.
On the other hand, Shiv Sena has emerged as the single-largest party only in BMC and Thane. It even failed to open an account in BJP's stronghold of Nagpur.
In such a scenario, BJP feels the mandate is certainly in its favour. Saroj Pandey said Shiv Sena should brood over this and join hands with BJP again to govern not just BMC but all other places which have thrown hung corporations.
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