Prestige issue for BJP, Shiv Sena in KDMC

While it was a jubilant period for the BJP as it completed one year in the state government on Saturday, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ prestige is at stake in neighbouring Kalyan Dombivali Municipal election where voting will take place on Sunday. The otherwise unimportant civic body poll, has now become a status issue for the BJP and Shiv Sena. Political experts said it is a litmus test for BJP, which currently has an upper hand in the government.

On the last day of campaigning for the polls, the saffron allies had a face-off exposing BJP’s desperation to win the civic body. “The Shiv Sena was keen on forging an alliance with BJP. They even tried for an alliance but the efforts did not pay off. BJP made it a prestige issue and tried all muscle and money power to woo voters. But they have no base there except a few upper caste votes. They used all the state machinery against Shiv Sena workers. The chief minister addressed seven rallies in the area which was really unprecedented,” a Shiv Sena MP said.

The CM kick-started the BJP’s campaign when the Sena was in discussion with the party for the alliance. He even announced a package of Rs 6,500 crore for development of the area. The last rally saw him use strong words against Shiv Sena, something not expected a person holding the highest post in the state. Shiv Sena, on other hand, revived its local network and stressed upon works done in the last five years.

Terming it a litmus test for BJP and Sena before the Mumbai Municipal poll in 2017, Prof. Surendra Jondhale from Department of Politics, Mumbai University said that each party is trying to assert itself strongly. “This is a litmus test for the Sena and BJP before the Mumbai Municipal poll. They are fighting tooth and nail to woo more voters,” Prof. Jondhale said.

“Also, as BJP is in power it becomes prestige issue for the party. If they win the party workers will be confident to go it alone in the BMC poll,” he added. Senior journalist Prakash Akolkar attributed the bitterness between the two to BJP president Amit Shah’s message to win elections single handedly. “After Amit Shah became president of the BJP, they have decided to eliminate Sena from state politics. Efforts are being made through various mediums, and the Kalyan Dombivali poll is one of them,” Mr Akolkar said.