Underworld don Arun Gawli’s daughter Geeta, who won the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections from Byculla, has backed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the civic body. On Friday morning, she visited the Konkan Bhawan in Navi Mumbai and showed her inclination to the Konkan Commissioner.

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Gawli said that she has decided to support BJP after meeting with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday. “Akhil Bhartiya Sena decided to support BJP on development issue and we will work for the development of the city.” She was accompanied by BJP corporator Manoj Kotak who said that more corporators will support the BJP in days to come.

Both Shiv Sena and BJP were in talks with Gawli. But Gawli's decision to back BJP is being taken as setback for Shiv Sena as in the past, Gawli had supported Shiv Sena. Gawali won the civic poll from ward number 212. Akhil Bharatiya Sena (ABS) had contested 30 seats in the civic election, but only Gawli managed to win.

The development comes a day after Gawli reportedly met Sena Minister Eknath Shinde and Rajya Sabha MP Anil Desai at Sena Bhavan, where she had remained non-committal on supporting the party in the poll for the prestigious post.

According to Times of India, Gawli had reportedly demanded chairmanship of the public health committee in lieu of support to the Sena, which was rejected by the party.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led outfit, with 84 seats, emerged as the single largest party in the February 21 civic election but fell well short of the simple majority mark (114 in 227-member BMC) required to install its candidate as Mayor. Since then, it has raised its tally to 89 after gaining support from a few Independent candidates.