Cong will pull strings to win mayoral election

The city is abuzz with political activity once again in the wake of the mayoral elections on December 1. Evincing interest in the poll for the coveted post, revenue minister Narayan Rane has fielded Congress candidate from Wadala, Presila Kadam. His trusted MLA Kalidas Kolambkar was with Kadam when she went to file her nomination papers.
Contesting against Kadam is Shiv Sena-BJP’s candidate Shraddha Jadhav. For the deputy mayor’s post, the contest will be between BJP corporator Shailaja Girkar and NCP’s Vidya Chavan.

The scales will be in Rane’s favour if he manages to rope in the corporators from the Akhil Bhartiya Sena and one independent corporator (who has supported Sena). Rane is also trying woe the disgruntled Sena corporators who failed to procure a ticket for the assembly elections.

The total strength of Sena-BJP combine in BMC is 115. Shiv Sena has 81 corporators, BJP 29, Akhil Bharatiya Sena 2, and Independent 3.

The Congress and other opposition parties have a total of 110 members. The Congress has 77, Nationalist Congress Party 14, Samajwadi Party 7, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena 6, RPI 3, and Independent 3. Two seats in the house are vacant.