BMC Elections | BJP accuses Shiv Sena, Congress of 'match-fixing'

BJP on Sunday claimed a "match-fixing" between the Congress and Shiv Sena in 42 wards for the BMC elections, scheduled later this month. "Leaders of both these parties have fielded weak candidates in these wards to benefit the other," city unit BJP president Ashish Shelar said.

BJP kick started its campaign on Sunday by first offering their tributes at Hutatma Smarak, where 107 people martyred for unification of Mumbai with Maharashtra before 1960. Sena, BJP's partner in Central and state governments, is contesting the municipal polls solo sans any alliance.

Both the saffron parties have been in power in BMC, country's richest civic body, for two decades. The election to 227-member BMC is scheduled on February 21.

Addressing a rally of the BJP candidates, Shelar said, "Shiv Sena and the Mumbai unit of Congress led by Sanjay Nirupam have entered into some kind of match fixing. Their agenda is to defeat BJP. It also means they have admitted their defeat. This is a treachery to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, to Mumbai and to Maharashtra as well." In a veiled dig at senior Sena leader Sanjay Raut, a confidante of party chief Uddhav Thackeray, Shelar said the leader continues his mischievous acts and for that sometimes he needs NCP chief Sharad Pawar and sometimes Sanjay Nirupam.

Referring to Nirupam's past association with Sena, Shelar said finally "old shiv sainik" has come to help. "I am ready to debate over these 42 seats where Shiv Sena and Congress have reached an understanding," he said.