BJP, Congress fall back on old guard in bid for civic poll victory

The Bharatiya Janata Party has been projecting itself as a party of new faces, and what's more, their 'no repetition' theory also fetched them success during the last civic polls.

However, this time round, the party seems set to field old names at the AMC elections.

Former mayors, who are not part of the present body, may get another chance this time. Sources in the BJP say that the party did not achieve the desired results with the younger brigade, and is hence keen on taking the help of senior party leaders. Many senior leaders in the BJP termed the current body's first one-and-a-half-year a failure.

The AMC administration did not pay heed to the complaints lodged by the corporators, and top BJP leaders had to intervene. As a result, many incidents of altercations between BJP corporators and AMC officials came to notice.

A majority of the corporators do not have thorough knowledge of the Bombay Province Municipal Corporation (BPMC) Act. As a result, they are unable to make officials work in public interest, said sources in the BJP. So this time, it is likely that the party may field senior people who will have control over the administration, on the basis of their experience. Moreover, the senior leaders will have control over the new faces as well, said sources.

On their part, the Congress is also mulling the idea of bringing back seniors who have, at some point of time, wielded power in the AMC. The idea is to assure a stronghold over ward seats. But the main criterion will be the former corporators' performance in the AMC.

"Senior members who have performed efficiently in the AMC will surely be considered.  But former candidates who've lost elections twice will not be given tickets this time," said a well-placed source in the Congress.

Sources, however, said that they have instructed senior corporators to not contest AMC elections or demand tickets, to save embarrassing situations.

"The other criterion for choosing candidates is that each candidate should be a resident of the ward from where he wants to contest elections. We are also emphasising on choosing better-educated candidates without a criminal background," said the source.