Independent Gawli to support BJP

Mumbai: Geeta Gawli, the daughter of incarcerated gangster Arun Gawli, on Friday met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis at his residence ‘Varsha’ and is likely to support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the mayoral election of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Ms Gawli, who will be the sole representative of her party Akhil Bharatiya Sena (ABS) in the 227-member civic house, is set to head the civic health committee as a part of her deal with BJP, according to sources. Ms Gawli had earlier visited Matoshree but Shiv Sena did not accept her demand of making her a member of the BMC standing committee.

Meanwhile Mumtaj Khan, Independent corporator from ward 102 has also declared his support for BJP. As a result, BJP’s strength in BMC has increased to 84 from 82.

These numbers are important as the mayoral election of BMC is scheduled for March 8 and BJP is considering naming its candidate against Shiv Sena, which has 88 corporators in its fold.

Ms Gawli is a three-time corporator from the Nagpada area of Byculla. She represents her father’s party ABS. On Thursday, Ms Gawli met Shiv Sena leaders, during which she reportedly demanded the chairmanship of the health committee for the first year and membership in the standing committee for the next four years. However, Sena leaders who were negotiating with Ms Gawli, including Cabinet minister Eknath Shinde and Member of Parliament Anil Desai, did not accept her demands.

Ms Gawli on Friday went to the Konkan Bhavan office in Navi Mumbai to register herself as a member of BJP’s corporators group in BMC. “BJP accepted our demands. I don’t have any bitter feeling towards Shiv Sena. I will work with BJP in the House,” Ms Gawli said after meeting Mr Fadnavis. Ms Gawli also denied that she held any discussion with the CM about her father.

Meanwhile, the MNS has kept its options open. MNS leader Nitin Sardesai said, "For us all the options are open. Nobody should take us for granted.”