Mumbai : The BJP, in an apparent gesture indicating its mood to go alone for the local body elections in the next few months across the state, inducted over 300 political workers, including a few corporators from Kalyan-Dombivali.
As part of the Kalyan-Dombivali Corporation (KDMC) elections, scheduled in November, the BJP last week inducted Ganpat Gaikawad, an independent MLA from Kalyan East. Apart from that, eight of the NCP’s 13 sitting corporators too had joined the BJP recently. On Friday, among the three corporators inducted, two were with the Shiv Sena earlier. The other party workers inducted also included two prominent Yuva Sena office bearers. This is being seen as an open challenge to the Shiv Sena.
At present, in the 107-member KDMC, the Shiv Sena holds power with 38 corporators. The BJP has 13 members, while the Congress has 16 and NCP had 13. The MNS is the second-largest party with 27 members.
Though the Shiv Sena, too, has initiated attempts to strengthen its position and inducted a strong supporter of Congress leader Narayan Rane and Leader of Opposition in KDMC Vishwanath Rane to its fold.
With the induction of Gaikwad, the BJP has all the three MLAs in the KDMC in its fold.
Of the three prominent regions of the KDMC, Dombivali has always been a stronghold of the BJP since its Jan Sangh days. The BJP’s Narendra Pawar brought the Kalyan West assembly segment to the party’s fold in the 2014 assembly elections. In addition to this, Gaikwad’s induction has boosted the party’s morale.
“We shall join hands (with the Shiv Sena) if there is any respectable proposal,” the BJP’s state unit president, Raosaheb Danve, said while speaking to reporters after the induction programme today.
“Several corporators as well as sitting and former MLAs from various places are in touch with the party leadership and they would be inducted in the party in a phased manner,” he added.
abhijit mulye
