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BMC polls: Parties off the block
Parties in Maharashtra are steadily warming up for the February 16 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) poll, with the Congress-NCP alliance having finalised their seat-sharing deal and Opposition Shiv Sena-BJP-RPI(A) combine having more or less firmed up their tie-up.
A day after the Congress and NCP alliance formalised their seat-sharing deal for the BMC poll, the Sena-BJP -RPI(A) combine - which was to have announced their electoral the seat-sharing arrangement on Wednesday- delayed their formal announcement for “strategic reasons” . The three-party grand alliance is expected to announce its tie-up later this week.
After considerable bargaining, the Congress and NCP sealed their alliance for the poll on Tuesday night. Under the deal worked out between the DF partners, the Congress will contest 169 seats out of total 227 BMC seats, while the NCP will field its candidates in the remaining 58 civic wards. The two parties are currently in the process of finalising the wards from which each of the two parties will contest.
On the other hand, the leaders of Sena-BJP-RPI(A) combine - who began seat-sharing talks several weeks ago - have by and large finalised the number of seats that each of the constituents will contest. Under the tentative deal arrived at among the three parties, the Shiv Sena will contest anywhere between 138 and 140 seats, while its principal ally BJP will contest 58 to 60 seats.
The two saffron alliance partners have set aside 29 seats to the Ramdas Athavale-led RPI(A). However, Athavale has demanded 30 seats, a demand that either of the saffron alliance partners is ready to accept.
“We were to have announced our seat-sharing arrangement for BMC today. But, we have delayed announcement as want to make a joint announcement for BMC and other major municipal corporations like Pune, Thane and Nagpur together, by the end of this week,” a senior Shiv Sena leader said.
Meanwhile, MNS president Raj Thackeray - whose party is contesting polls to six municipal corporations, including BMC, Thane, Nashik and Pune - is currently holding interviews of ticket seekers. Those appearing for the MNS interviews are the ones who had passed the written test conducted by the party a month ago.
The MNS is likely to come out with its list of candidates well ahead of the start of nominations for the civic polls, scheduled for January 24.
In a related development, the State Election Commission SEC said that in view of the naxal threat in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, Zilla Parishad elections there would be held in two phases — on February 7 and 12 respectively.
The SEC is, however, undecided on holding the counting of votes in the February 7 ZP and February 16 municipal corporations polls as demanded by Opposition parties. “Currently, we have around 26,000 EVMs, but we will require around 66,000,” she said.
Parties in Maharashtra are steadily warming up for the February 16 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) poll, with the Congress-NCP alliance having finalised their seat-sharing deal and Opposition Shiv Sena-BJP-RPI(A) combine having more or less firmed up their tie-up.
A day after the Congress and NCP alliance formalised their seat-sharing deal for the BMC poll, the Sena-BJP -RPI(A) combine - which was to have announced their electoral the seat-sharing arrangement on Wednesday- delayed their formal announcement for “strategic reasons” . The three-party grand alliance is expected to announce its tie-up later this week.
After considerable bargaining, the Congress and NCP sealed their alliance for the poll on Tuesday night. Under the deal worked out between the DF partners, the Congress will contest 169 seats out of total 227 BMC seats, while the NCP will field its candidates in the remaining 58 civic wards. The two parties are currently in the process of finalising the wards from which each of the two parties will contest.
On the other hand, the leaders of Sena-BJP-RPI(A) combine - who began seat-sharing talks several weeks ago - have by and large finalised the number of seats that each of the constituents will contest. Under the tentative deal arrived at among the three parties, the Shiv Sena will contest anywhere between 138 and 140 seats, while its principal ally BJP will contest 58 to 60 seats.
The two saffron alliance partners have set aside 29 seats to the Ramdas Athavale-led RPI(A). However, Athavale has demanded 30 seats, a demand that either of the saffron alliance partners is ready to accept.
“We were to have announced our seat-sharing arrangement for BMC today. But, we have delayed announcement as want to make a joint announcement for BMC and other major municipal corporations like Pune, Thane and Nagpur together, by the end of this week,” a senior Shiv Sena leader said.
Meanwhile, MNS president Raj Thackeray - whose party is contesting polls to six municipal corporations, including BMC, Thane, Nashik and Pune - is currently holding interviews of ticket seekers. Those appearing for the MNS interviews are the ones who had passed the written test conducted by the party a month ago.
The MNS is likely to come out with its list of candidates well ahead of the start of nominations for the civic polls, scheduled for January 24.
In a related development, the State Election Commission SEC said that in view of the naxal threat in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, Zilla Parishad elections there would be held in two phases — on February 7 and 12 respectively.
The SEC is, however, undecided on holding the counting of votes in the February 7 ZP and February 16 municipal corporations polls as demanded by Opposition parties. “Currently, we have around 26,000 EVMs, but we will require around 66,000,” she said.
