Uddhav Thackeray loud on sops, mum on BJP alliance

Mumbai: With an eye on the BMC elections, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday made several poll promises but preferred to keep mum on the BJP alliance issue.

The BJP leaders submitted their demand of 114 seats, but Mr Thackeray said that he has not received any proposal. Meanwhile, BJP Mumbai president Ashish Shelar said that the BJP was unhappy after it was offered 60 seats. “This is an insult to our party,” he said. Sources say that if one reads between the lines, it is clear from Mr Thackeray’s recent comments that the two parties might not go along together for the polls.

Although the deadline set by both the parties to announce the alliance is over, no consensus has been reached. The Shiv Sena offered 60 seats to the BJP while it has contested 63 in the last BMC polls. While speaking with mediapersons on Sunday, Mr Thackeray said that unless he gets a concrete proposal from the saffron ally, he would not make any comment on the alliance. “One must know that there have been many deadlines after the decision of demonetisation. Unless I get a proposal from the BJP, I am not going to make any comment,” he said.

The Sena chief announced sops for the BMC again. He said that the school children in the city would get free bus passes. “We will also provide healthcare facilities to the BEST employees. The citizens will have better road and water facilities,” he said. Two days ago, Mr Thackeray had announced property tax waiver for houses (up to 500 sq ft) and concession to houses in property tax (up to 700 sq ft). Mr Thackeray planned to replicate the same in Thane and Ulhasnagar areas as well.

The Sena chief was accompanied by Eknath Shinde, a senior leader from Thane, who also made several promises – developing a central park, sports complex and dam to tackle Thane’s water woes if the party comes to power.