Regional complacency may cost BJP ambitious ‘150 BMC seats’

Mumbai: The high command of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has flagged regional- and local-level complacency in Maharashtra that may prove costly for the party- -along with the political formation led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde--in achieving a good showing in the upcoming civic polls in 23 municipalities including Mumbai. The coalition government in Maharashtra has set an ambitious target of placing 150 civic councillors in Mumbai city’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), as announced during Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent visit to Mumbai. “The BJP high command, after assessing the ground-level situation in the civic jurisdiction of BMC , has realized that none of the 83 BJP councillors elected in 2017 have created a political space for themselves,” a senior BJP leader said, adding that political complacency is visible across the civic wards of Mumbai.

A BJP councillor in turn cited existing confusion among the party’s rank and file regarding a fresh lottery and reservation for the civic elections. The erstwhile MVA government had increased the number of seats from 227 in 2017 to 236 (in March), which has now reverted to 227. “We are not sure whether fresh reservations/lottery will be held now after this contraction from 236 to 227. Our political roadmap can be worked out post clarity on the issue,” the BJP councillor said, seeking anonymity. However, the senior BJP leadership in Maharashtra as well as in New Delhi is unimpressed, given that none of the BJP councillors have introduced a single Union govt scheme announced by PM Modi in their respective constituencies. “ The 83 - strong BJP councillors sat in opposition after the 2017 BMC elections, where Shiv Sena secured 85 seats. Although the BJP a n d Shiv Sena were in an alliance govern - ment until the end of 2019, the subsequent 2.5 years saw no civic issue or corruption being flagged by BJP councillors despite the parties having parted ways.The ambitious target of 150 seats may be wishful thinking if the BJP is unable to retain the 83 elected constituencies it won in 2017,” the B J P leader said.