BJP Keen to Contest 150 Seats in BMC Polls, May Clash With Sena

Internal survey shows Shinde-led Sena would suffer if the Thackerays come together, but BJP's prospects won't be hit

- Surendra P Gangan

MUMBAI: The BJP, which is aiming to win over 680 urban and rural local bodies in the forthcoming polls, is hellbent on conquering the BMC, the largest and richest civic body in the country. Based on its internal surveys, the party is likely to contest 150 of the 227 seats in Mumbai to ensure that it wins more than half the seats on its own. This is, however, expected to lead to a tussle with its ruling ally, the Shiv Sena, which aims to contest over 100 seats.

Against the backdrop of talks between the estranged Thackeray cousins, Uddhav and Raj, and their likelihood of allying in the local body polls, the BJP checked out their potential in the BMC elections.

The internal survey conducted by the party reportedly showed that the Thackeray cousins' reconciliation would cost the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena dear without hampering the BJP much. This has elated the BJP and spurred it to go aggressive on its partners in the seat-sharing arrangement, according to the party's senior leaders.

"Although it is a far-fetched possibility, if the Thackeray cousins come together, it will not harm our prospects," said a Mumbai-based BJP leader. "Our North Indian and Gujarati-Marwari voters will remain intact. In fact, the Sena (UBT) could lose North Indian votes by joining hands with Raj because of the latter's anti-North Indian image. Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, however, could be dented in the Marathi-dominated areas of South and South-Central Mumbai. In such a scenario, we have room to ask for more seats while negotiating with the Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP."