Following the dismal performance of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Shiv Sena (UBT) in Pune is likely to insist that the party contest the long-delayed civic polls alone. However, the city units of Congress and NCP (SP) are keen to continue the alliance.
“In Mumbai, the demand to contest the civic polls alone is gaining momentum. Pune The unit also wants the same to happen here and will make such a demand,” said Gajanan Tharkude, its chief. Shiv Sena (UBT) unit said in Pune.
Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections were last held in 2017. With the new government soon to be sworn in, long-delayed civic elections are likely to be held in the next few months.
Tharkude told that BJP Those areas in Pune which were Shiv Sena strongholds have already been captured. “The upcoming civic elections should not be about winning seats; “This is an opportunity to re-energize the organization at the local level for a better future.”
Tharkude’s comments come at a time when the undivided Shiv Sena has 12 members in the 152-member PMC. The main tussle in the municipal body has been between the BJP and the NCP. In 2017, the BJP came to power in the PMC for the first time, ousting the NCP-Congress regime; NCP was the main opposition party. No civic elections have been held since then but both factions of the NCP are likely to suffer losses in the next elections.
Although the MVA was successful in the Lok Sabha elections by winning 31 out of 48 seats in the state, it won only 46 seats in the assembly elections. However, despite the poor performance, Pune NCP (SP) chief Prashant Jagtap said he believes Congress, NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) should contest the PMC elections as MVAs.
“This is because the ruling parties are misusing power to damage the social structure. Due to his wrong stance the civic elections were also delayed by two years,” Jagtap said. “Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders may have different opinions. I believe that by uniting we should stop the wrong political parties from coming to power in the civic body,” Jagtap said.
Pune Congress chief Arvind Shinde said it is time to accept the reality of current politics and emerge as a strong contender for the rival BJP and its alliance partners. “The party leadership forged pre-poll alliances for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections and forced the party cadre of the alliance partners to come together and campaign. Going separate would mean that the same cadre would fight against each other. This will benefit the rivals.”
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