Strong objection to even discussion of tie-up or indirect support to Shiv Sena in BMC, says Gurudas Kamat

Amid speculations whether the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena will join hands for control of Mumbai's civic body, senior Congress leader Gurudas Kamat on Saturday said he was against any kind of support to the Sena in BMC.

"I take strong objection to any discussion even of having any tie up or indirect support to the Shiv Sena in the BMC," he said.

He said Congress has fought against both saffron parties all along for their divisive policies and people will not spare the Congress if the party even attempts to align with them.

"Let them (BJP-Sena) sort out their problems by themselves and in the process expose themselves and their lust for power," Kamat said.

"I have also informed Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi of my opinion," he added. 

In the bitterly fought BMC elections, Shiv Sena had won 84 seats (now 87), BJP secured 82, Congress was relegated to the third position with 31 seats, whereas the NCP and Raj Thackeray-led MNS finished with nine and seven seats respectively.

Besides, AIMIM got two seats, Samajwadi Party 6, Akhil Bhartiya Sena 1 and Independents 5 (of which 3 have now joined the Sena).

The tally of Shiv Sena, which emerged as the single largest party after the counting on Thursday, has risen to 87 corporators with three party rebels who won as Independent nominees returning to its fold yesterday.

Senior Congress leader Sushil Kumar Shinde said the party is yet to take a decision on the issue, while MPCC chief Ashok Chavan chose to remain non-committal on making any open statement.