To have its Mayor in KDMC for 4 years, BJP gets 1 year ,
Mumbai : After day-long developments that indicated that not everything is well within the alliance, the Shiv Sena and the BJP declared the power sharing agreement for the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), where the Shiv Sen will have the Mayor’s office first. This would also mean an end to the MNS’s dream to act ‘king maker’ in the hung house. According to the agreement, Shiv Sena will hold the post of Mayor for four years and BJP for one year. Similarly the post of Deputy Mayor would be with the BJP for four years and with Shiv Sena for One year. The four year stints are divided between 2.5 and 1.5 years with a one year gap in between. The decision regarding the standing committee has not been complete as yet. The BJP will head the committee for first two years while Shiv Sena would get the later two years. The decision regarding last one year in standing committee will be made at a later time, state BJP chief Raosaheb Danve announced at a late night press conference.
Shiv Sena leader and state industries minister Subhash Desai who was present at the press conference said that both the parties combines would have a majority of 94 in the 122 member house. This shows that people have trusted us, they are firmly with us. “We are committed to the people and would implement manifesto put forth by both the parties,” he said. However, earlier in the day BJP members Rahul Damle and Vikram Tare filed their nominations for the post of Mayor and Deputy Mayor respectively. Similarly Shiv Sena members Rajendra Deolekar and Rajesh More too filed nominations, indicating that though talks were on, all was not well within the alliance. The formula for the power sharing was finalized late in the evening, with BJP declaring that Damle would withdraw his nomination on Sunday. The election of the post is on Wednesday (Nov. 11).
“There was no hard bargaining involved in our discussions. It got over in five minutes flat, because both parties knew that grass-root workers want us to rule the KDMC together,” finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, who was involved in the negotiation process told FPJ. “The decision regarding one year of the Standing Committee chairmanship will be made by Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at a later time,” he said. “We have got an opportunity to serve the people. If we don’t do this and keep talking about power all the time, people are bound to get frustrated. We cannot let this happen,” he added.
Although the Sena emerged as the single largest party bagging 52 seats in the 122-member KDMC, it fell short of a majority. The BJP came second winning 42 seats and improved its previous tally of nine. The Congress won four, while the NCP won two seats in the polls that took place last Sunday. The Raj-Thackeray led MNS managed to get nine seats, while the BSP and the MIM won one seat each. Nine independent candidates also emerged as winners in the civic body.
