Shiv Sena trying to redo 30 wards, postpone BMC polls: Ex-minister Ashish Shelar

In the previous civic elections, Shiv Sena had gained a small lead over the BJP to remain in power

The Bharatiya Janata Party has accused its prime opponent in the city civic body, the ruling Shiv Sena, of trying to restructure the 30 municipal wards and postponing the civic polls by at least two years.

Ashish Shelar, Ex-minister and former corporator

Corporator-turned-legislator and ex-minister Ashish Shelar made the allegations on Tuesday, a day after the state election commission asked the BMC to prepare itself for holding the elections which are due in February next. In the previous elections, the BJP and Sena competed very closely, with the latter gaining a small lead to remain in power. BJP, then a major partner in the state government, fought independent of the Sena and stayed away from sharing power.

"The Sena has been conspiring because it is scared of losing. We understand that efforts are made to restructure the 30 wards where the Sena and Congress cannot win in their lifetime," he said, adding that the Sena tried to advance the BMC polls when the pandemic seemed under control, but the second wave failed the plan.

"Then the Sena began to say the ward structuring done in 2017 was unconstitutional and benefitted the BJP most. However, a retired officer who the BMC appointed established that the restructuring was done as per the Census. Now, the Sena has started yet another attempt," added Shelar.

Citing reports claiming that the pandemic's third wave would create difficulties, he said the Sena is trying to use the virus to its benefit by extending the term of BMC's current governing set-up by two years. "Do the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party approve of such attempts," he asked, demanding that the polls must be held after considering the law and the pandemic. "The BJP is ready to defeat the Sena on any day, any given time and any situation the Sena creates."

He said if the elections were postponed by two years, the work contracts to be given should be referred to the state election commission for approval. "BMC's standing committee shouldn't be allowed to make decisions. The wastewater project that costs Rs 20,000 crore needs approval," he said, alleging ‘commission' politics in awarding the work contracts.

Shelar also challenged the Sena leadership to show the citizens the silt that was removed from the city's drains ahead of the monsoon. "As usual, the drainage desilting/cleaning work has been far from real. They have spent Rs 70 crore, but can they show us the place where they dumped the 5 lakh metric tonnes of silt?"

Feb 2022
Month next civic polls are due