The tug of war between Shiv Sena and BJP is likely to take a serious turn unless senior BJP leaders intervene to defuse the tension.
The tug of war between Shiv Sena and BJP is likely to take a serious turn unless senior BJP leaders intervene to defuse the tension. Now, BJP MP Kirit Somaiya has prepared to slap a legal notice on Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana after it carried a story claiming that a company owned by Mr Somaiya’s wife usurped an SRA (Slum Rehabilitation Authority) plot.
Both the parties, who share power in the state, as well as at the Centre, have been taking on each other in the run-up to the municipal corporation elections that are due next year.
According to sources from both the parties, they are preparing to go it alone in the BMC elections for the first time in the last 30 years. However, the “friendly battle” between the two took a serious turn last week when Mr Somaiya indicated that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and his family members were responsible for the alleged corruption in the municipal corporation that has an annual budget of over Rs 35,000 crore.
On Monday, the Shiv Sena mouthpiece carried a story claiming that Mr Somaiya had “fraudulently” acquired an SRA project in Santa Cruz under the name of Medha Builders and Developers registered in his wife’s name. The Saamana report claimed that the said project was originally being developed by a company called Gemini Builders and the project got delayed for 13 years. However, Medha Developers bought the project at Rs 15 crore even though locals did not approve it.
However, Mr Somaiya hit back saying that baseless allegations are being made against him to stop him from speaking against the corruption. He also said that his fight against corruption would continue. “I have already initiated legal proceedings against Kalpana Inamdar (who has been quoted in the Saamana report) and Saamana newspaper for making false allegations against me and my wife,” Mr Somaiya said.
Interestingly, both the parties need each other’s support in the state and BMC. While the BJP is the single largest party in the state Assembly, it does not have a clear majority. Without Shiv Sena’s support, the BJP will have a minority government. Similarly, in the BMC Shiv Sena needs the BJP’s support to get a clear majority.
A senior BJP leader said that both parties must avoid personal attacks. “It is clear that even if we fight elections against each other, we will need to work together.
In last year’s Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation election we fought against each other, but came together to stake power. A similar situation may arise after the BMC elections also. The leadership of both the parties should understand this.”
Last week, Mr Somaiyya had alleged that a “Bandra boss” was involved in civic scams and controlled much of the civic body’s work.
Leader of Opposition in the BMC Pravin Chheda on Monday staged a protest in the standing committee by sloganeering and displaying banners, demanding to know who the “Bandra boss” was, and if he had any connection with the Shiv Sena, as alleged by Mr Somaiyya. This forced the committee chairman Yashodhar Phanse to adjourn the meeting hastily, while the Opposition staged a walkout.
Defending the Shiv Sena, Trushna Vishwasrao, Leader of the House in the BMC said, “Chheda will find his answers if he asks BJP members who have levelled such allegations. What can Shiv Sena do about it ” Meanwhile, BJP leader in the BMC, Manoj Kotak did not contribute to the defense and refused to comment throughout the meeting.
