Mumbai Mayor Will be From Shiv Sena as BJP Refuses to Contest

New Delhi: With the Shiv Sena on Saturday announcing its candidates for the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the BJP made it clear that it won't contest the posts, thus clearing the way for Sena.

Fadnavis said his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is ready to offer support to the Shiv Sena but would not take any post, including of Deputy Mayor, Leader of Opposition, or chairmanship of any committees in the country's richest and biggest civic body.

"If they require any votes, the BJP is ready to offer support to the Shiv Sena," he told media persons here.

Fandavis, who led the BJP's civic poll campaign on the plank of 'transparency', said his party would rather remain the 'watchdog' in BMC.

"People in Mumbai voted overwhelmingly for the BJP since they believed in our agenda for transparency in the civic administration," he said.

"Shiv Sena has emerged as the single largest party, while the BJP is two seats behind. So, we did not get the numbers to install our Mayor. We would have needed to take support of other parties for that," he said.

Fadnavis said the BJP did not want to compromise on the issue of transparency by seeking outside support. So, the party chose the option of respecting the faith the voters had reposed in it and added that it should not be construed as a "surrender" for the sake of the stability of his government, in which Shiv Sena is a partner.

"My government is stable. Yesterday, Shiv Sena ministers attended the cabinet meeting and we agreed on various issues," he said.

The Shiv Sena has welcomed the BJP's decision and thanked Fadnavis for "respecting the sentiments of the people".

Hours before the BJP spelt out its stance, the Shiv Sena had announced Vishvanath Mahadeshwar as its nominee for the Mayor's post and Hareshwar Worlikar as Deputy Mayor candidate.

Neither the Sena, which emerged as the single largest party with 84 seats, nor the BJP, a close second with 82 corporators, has enough numbers to touch the half-way mark in 227-member council.

However, the party with the highest number of corporators can get its candidates elected for the two posts so long as other parties do not come together and put up joint candidates.

The next Mayor will be elected during the first meeting of the new House on March 8.

(With agency inputs)