Parties to go it alone in Mira-Bhayander

MIRA ROAD: The four major political parties in the state are set to test their individual strength in the upcoming Mira-Bhayander municipal elections scheduled on August 12.

In fact, with all the political parties pitted against each other, the corporation may just head for a hung house.

Of the six parties contesting all the 79 seats in the municipal corporation election, not one has found an alliance partner and all are banking on their own to score in the second elections after Mira-Bhayander was declared a municipal corporation five years ago.

Constituents of the ruling DF in the state (Congress and NCP), the opposition parties (MNS, Shiv Sena and BJP), local parties (Hitendra Thakur’s Vasai Vikas Aghadi), have not just avoided aligning with each other, but are campaigning against each other.

There are six municipal corporations in Thane, of which four are ruled by Congress-NCP combine while in two the Sena-BJP alliance rules.

This is why despite the rains, the Mira-Bhayander poll has become the battleground for all, with top party leaders campaigning in the area to woo voters in the last few days before August 10.

While from the Shiv Sena’s side, executive president Uddhav Thackeray will address two public meetings on August 8 and 9, BJP senior leader Gopinath Munde has already addressed a meeting last week.

MNS chief Raj Thackeray also plans to conduct two meetings before August 10. From the Congress’s side the poll responsibility lies on MPCC president Prabha Rau, while from the Shiv Sena it lies with MLA Subhash Desai.

The area has till now been frequented by BJP’s Atul Bhatkhalkar, NCP’s Gurunath Kulkarni, MNS’s Shirish Parkar and VVA’s Hintendra Thakur shoulder.

On Monday, Deputy CM and home minister RR Patil conducted a roadshow in the area, while Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh is expected to rally for the Congress in coming days.

With Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) contesting 48 seats independently and MLA Hintendra Thakur’s Vasai Vikas Aaghadi (VVA) contesting on 10 seats, the battle is set to become interesting.

The kind of clout Thakur demands in the area and fast growing MNS are likely to eat into the votes of the six major parties, thus ensuring that no single party gets a clear majority.

Talking to DNA Subhash Desai said, “In the past five years that the Congress-NCP combine ruled the corporation, it has not done anything for the residents who continue to live like Adivasis.

Left without primary facilities like water, roads, drainage facilities, drama theatres, stadium and even a playground, the people have no city life.”

Stating that of the over 1.5 million population living in the corporation only 40 per cent were registered voters, Desai said, “The Sena has promised its voters that it aims to tackle the problem of the huge chunk of migrant population, comprising Bangladeshis and bar girls, in the corporation.

Also, the serious problem of water supply and distribution will be sorted soon.”

About the proposed doubling the property tax on illegal buildings, which was forwarded by the recently-concluded monsoon session of the legislative council, Desai said his party opposed the move.

“Like ULCA, we will oppose the bill in the next assembly session,” said Desai, adding that post-polls the Sena would be willing to tie-up with all parties except the Congress.