The Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) decision to back the BJP in the mayoral election has paved the way for the Shiv Sena to win unopposed. The nomination papers were filed by Shiv Sena candidate Kishori Pednekar and deputy mayor Suhas Wadkar on Monday on the last day for the May 22 election. Due to the filing of nominations by these two candidates for both the posts till the last time, they are being decided to be elected unopposed. Pednekar has been elected councilor for the fourth time from Prabhadevi, while Wadkar has been elected councilor for the second time from Malad.
BJP MLA Ashish Shelar had made it clear during the day that this time the party will not field its candidates in the Mumbai Mayor election. He said that the party still does not have enough numbers to win and that we cannot compromise our principles by taking opponents along. In the year 2022, BJP will have enough numbers to win and then we will participate in the Mayor election.
It is believed that the BJP has decided to withdraw from the mayoral election in view of the strained relations with the Shiv Sena. The Shiv Sena has broken ties with the NDA only for the post of Chief Minister.
Shiv Sena has been in BMC for more than two decades with the support of BJP. Out of the total 227 seats of BMC, the Shiv Sena holds 84 and BJP holds 82. In the year 2017, BJP supported Vishwanath Mahadeshwar of Shiv Sena for the post of Mayor.
