Six married couples in BMC poll race

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation may have as many as six couples as corporators, if they get elected in the forthcoming civic polls. There are six husbands-wives duos who are trying their luck to become a corporator in the civic body.

Shiv Sena has two couples in its candidates’ list. The party has fielded Yashwant and Yamini Jadhav from ward no 209 and 210 in Mazgaon and Ashok and Prajakta Sawant from ward no 23 and 24 in Kandivali respectively.

The BJP has nominated Bablu and Anita Panchal from ward no 141 and 144 in Mankhurd. The Panchals had quit the Shiv Sena and joined the BJP just before the polls. In addition to this, Murji and Kesarben Patel will also be contesting as BJP candidates from ward no 81 and 76 in Andheri respectively.

The NCP has fielded Ajit and Rupali Raorane from ward no 43 and 37 in Malad, whereas Congress has nominated Ashraf and Dilshad Azmi from ward no 165 and 167 in Kalina respectively. The Azmi couple too had quit the Samajwadi Party to join the Congress before the polls.

Of them, Yamini Jadhav, Ajit Bhandari, Prajakta Sawant, Bablu Panchal, Kesarben Patel, Rupali Raorane and Ashraf Azmi are current corporators.

While critics have slammed the move to give tickets to candidates from one family, Mr Azmi said it was up to the people to decide whether to elect them or not. “If the people find us good enough, they will elect us,” he said.