BJP MP alleges horse-trading

Mumbai: Stunned by the Shiv Sena’s move to win over six MNS corporators, the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has levelled serious allegations of horse-trading against its alliance partner. Hitting back at the BJP, the Sena has retorted that ‘donkeys’ should not allege horse-trading.

BJP MP Kirit Somaiya said, “Our political alliance partner has kidnapped three to four corporators and paid them a bribe of Rs 3 crore each.”

In a letter written to the State Election Commission, Mr Somaiya has said, “It is understood that a major political party at Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is indulging in purchasing of municipal corporators by paying crores to each of them. A couple of municipal councillors are taken into custody by this political party. Such corrupt practices and anti-democratic activities should be dealt strongly.”

However, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray refuted the allegations, saying that ‘donkeys’ should not allege horse-trading. “They should be aware of what they did in other states. It is not splitting the party, it is a homecoming of these corporators,” he quipped.

After Sena’s move to lure six MNS corporators, emotions in the BJP camp have been changed from buoyancy to despondency in just a single day. After a thumping win in a Bhandup by-poll on Wednesday, the party had set its eyes on ruling the BMC. Soon after BJP’s Jagruti Patil won the by-poll, Mr Somaiya had announced that BMC’s next mayor would be from his party.  

“I openly challenge Uddhav Thackeray that BJP will soon be a single largest party in the BMC and mayor will be ours,” he had said.

According to sources, alarmed by BJP’s win, Sena overnight made the moves to persuade MNS corporators to join its fold. Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar and senior party leader Anil Parab made a big role behind the curtains in these developments.

The moves were so swift that both the MNS and BJP had no sniff about them, said sources.

Commenting on the bribe allegations, MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande said, “They wouldn’t have needed to poach our corporators had they agreed to accept our helping hand in the municipal polls. We had opened an entire treasure of friendship for them, but they declined.” Corporator Dilip Lande said that he decided to join Sena to ensure that Marathi people don’t lose their hold on the city.