Bouyed by its success in the recent Mumbai civic polls, BJP today demanded that it should get at least one term of the mayor's post in the Brihanmumai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
In the recently-concluded civic polls, the Shiv Sena-BJP-RPI combine emerged as the biggest group to rule the Mumbai civic body. Shiv Sena, BJP and RPI had bagged 75, 32 and one seats respectively. This is Shiv Sena-BJP combine's fourth consecutive term and so far mayor's post had gone to Sena alone.
"We want equal share in power. We got 62,000 more votes compared to the last time and our share of votes increased by 18 per cent. Hence, we must get one term of mayor and standing committee chairmanship (in BMC)," Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Vinod Tawde said at a party's 'victory' meet to celebrate its performance, as it won 31 out of the 63 seats it contested.
State BJP chief Sudhir Mungantiwar endorsed Tawde's view saying that it was a demand of the party workers and the state leadership would persue the matter during negotiations with Shiv Sena.
Tawde said, because of RPI, BJP has benefitted in 15 to 16 wards. "RPI should also be given important share in power," he said.
He added that political pundits had written off BJP and predicted that Shiv Sena may lose the civic polls due to BJP's poor show.But we have proved every one wrong," he said.
Party general secretary in-charge of Maharashtra Venkaiah Naidu felicitated the winning corporators and also the party's losing candidates, as well as the office-bearers.
Criticising chief minister Prithviraj Chavan's comments that Sena-BJP would be taught a lesson in the elections, both the leaders said people of Mumbai had shown Congress the door because of its "arrogance of power".
However, BJP Deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gopinath munde said Sena-BJP should not fight over posts and stay united.
"Sena-BJP-RPI should be united and work together and not fight over posts. If we work together for two years, the alliance will win the next assembly elections with clear majority," he said.
Talking about the Lok Sabha, Munde said, the alliance will win more than 28, out of the 48 LS seats.
"Sena-BJP have capacity to defeat the Congress-NCP. In the civic polls, only BJP seats increased. The saffron alliance retained Mumbai, Thane and Nagpur. The success is due to alliance with the RPI. In assembly elections, we have to ensure that RPI wins more seats," he said.
Describing Mumbai as a "mini India", Naidu said, "Mumbai mandate is the mood of the nation, which is against Congress."
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