Eye on BMC polls,political leverage over Chhat to gather votes

With an eye on north Indian votes in the megalopolis which can tilt scales in upcoming high-stakes BMC polls, various political parties are trying to leverage the forthcoming Chhat festival, mainly celebrated by people from Bihar.
While city unit of ruling BJP has organised Chhat puja at various places, Raj Thackeray led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, which thrives on the sons-of-soil agenda, feels the saffron party was trying to "woo" outsiders ahead of BMC polls through the festival.
Country's richest civic body the Brihanumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been ruled by Sena, with BJP as a junior partner. The 2017 BMC polls are crucial for Sena, which is facing aggressive BJP on its home turf.

Mumbai BJP is actively involved in organising Chhat Puja at around a dozen locations including popular Juhu beach.
"BJP is holding Chhat puja to attract 'outsiders'", an MNS leader said, in a veiled reference to north Indian voters in Mumbai.
Chhat is performed in order to thank the Sun god for sustaining life on earth. The festival is mainly celebrated in Bihar, eastern UP and Jharkhand.

City unit Congress president Sanjay Nirupam has said that "BJP only celebrates Chhat Puja when there is an election round the corner."
Nirupam, who originally hails from Bihar, today asked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to ensure that BJP does not politicise Chhat ahead of the BMC polls.

"BJP is known to use religious rituals for political gains. I have been organising Chhath puja celebrations at Juhu beach for the last 18 years. As per the High Court guidelines, the celebrations should not take place under the banner of any political party and party flags should not be displayed at the venue," Nirupam stated in a letter to Fadnavis today.
Yesterday, a delegation of some BJP leaders called on the CM and sought assistance of state government for celebrating Chhat puja at sea fronts in different parts of city on November 6.
Shiv Sena, known for its aggressive 'bhumiputra' stance, said Chhat events are being organised with an eye on BMC polls and that they are a show of "political affection to people".

"Sena is not concerned about which party is doing what. Entire country knows Sena for its unwavering stand on Hindutva. It's only Sena which never backtracked from its stand and even Biharis know that.
"All these events are being held in view of BMC polls, but it's true love and affection that people require. People are fed up with political affection towards them," said local Sena MP Arvind Sawant.