Shiv Sena corporators keen on contesting Maharashtra assembly polls

Many sitting Shiv Sena corporators are keen on contesting the assembly polls scheduled for October 15. But given the dearth of experienced second rung leaders in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the party may not be inclined to offer them tickets.

According to sources, former mayors Shubha Raul, Sunil Prabhu and Shraddha Jadhav, and standing committee chairman Yashodhar Phanase are some of the senior corporators keen on contesting, from Dahisar, Dindoshi, Wadala and Versova constituencies, respectively.

The party, however, is mulling offering tickets to only two or three corporators to ensure the house is in order in BMC, Asia's largest municipal corporation, sources said. Shiv Sena has been ruling BMC along with BJP for at least 18 years now.

"With 50% of the 227 seats in the city reserved for women in the 2012 civic polls, many parties including Sena saw several new faces getting elected as corporators. Hence barring a few corporators (like Prabhu, Raul, Jadhav and Phanase), there are not many experienced party men left in BMC. So, except Prabhu, other contenders don't seem to be clear cut contenders for the poll. They will handle party matters in the BMC. It's Uddhavji (Sena president Thackeray) who will decide the fate of the aspirants, though," the source said.

Prabhu, Raul and Jadhav could not be reached for their version.

Phanase said he was ready to take up any role the party chief assigned him. "Saheb (Thackeray) knows who is a performer and who is not. I will follow whatever instructions he passes on," Phanase added.