Nashik mayor: BJP may bail MNS out

Speculations are rife over Thursday’s mayoral election for Nashik. In fact, with new political equations evolving every day, it still is an open game till the votes are cast.

In the latest turn of events and with higher possibilities, speculation that the BJP is all set to support the MNS candidate is strong.

MNS chief Raj Thackeray and BJP’s state chief Sudhir Mungantiwar had a meeting in Mumbai on Tuesday evening. Later the same evening, Mungantiwar is said to have met Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray.

While no clear indications were given about these meetings, it is understood that the BJP is likely to support the MNS for the mayoral post.

One possibility could be that the BJP will support the MNS and the Shiv Sena may abstain from voting and withdraw its mayoral candidate. Thus, indirectly returning the Thane favour.

On the other hand, The NCP is trying hard to keep the MNS at bay. While the NCP is banking on the support of the Congress and the Independents, it still could be a tough game as there are talks of making an Independent candidate the mayor.

In such a situation, the Congress may decide to support on the basis of who the Independent candidate is, said a senior Congress leader.

Yet another possibility doing the rounds is the Shiv Sena supporting the NCP and the Congress.