Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday withdrew its support to the Raj Thackeray- led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in the Nashik Municipal Corporation.
The MNS had bagged the mayor’s post in the 122-member NMC with the BJP’s support in 2012 leaving the latter’s traditional ally, the Shiv Sena, looking askance at the BJP’s stratagem.
“The MNS has not kept any of its promises since the time we helped its candidate Yatin Wagh become Mayor of Nashik. Things haven’t improved even after the end of Mr. Wagh’s term. It’s high time we gave our candidate a chance,” said BJP legislator Girish Mahajan.
There has been much sabre-rattling between the MNS and the BJP during their uneasy alliance in Nashik.
Sources said with the Assembly polls in sight, the BJP and the Shiv Sena, partners in the ‘Mahayuti’ alliance, had to keep a united face across the State. Accordingly, it is expected that the BJP will gravitate towards the Sena in the mayoral election to the NMC to be held on September 12.
The NMC is the only important civic body in the State under the MNS’ control. According to sources, Raj Thackeray’s party, which will launch its poll campaign on September 25, is skating on thin ice.
The MNS has 40 seats in the NMC, while the Sena has 19, the BJP has 14, the Congress has 15, the Nationalist Congress Party has 20, the Republican Party of India (Athawale) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) have three each, while Independents account for six seats and the Janrajya Aghadi has 2 seats.
