Match-fixing between Sena and Cong for 42 BMC wards: BJP

BJP today claimed a "match-fixing" between the Congress and Shiv Sena in 42 wards for the BMC elections, scheduled later this month.
"Leaders of both these parties have fielded weak candidates in these wards to benefit the other," city unit BJP president Ashish Shelar said.
BJP today kick started its campaign by first offering their tributes at Hutatma Smarak, where 107 people martyred for unification of Mumbai with Maharashtra before 1960.
Sena, BJP's partner in Central and state governments, is contesting the municipal polls solo sans any alliance.
Both the saffron parties have been in power in BMC, country's richest civic body, for two decades.

The election to 227-member BMC is scheduled on February 21.

Addressing a rally of the BJP candidates, Shelar said, "Shiv Sena and the Mumbai unit of Congress led by Sanjay Nirupam have entered into some kind of match fixing. Their agenda is to defeat BJP. It also means they have admitted their defeat. This is s treachery to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, to Mumbai and to Maharashtra as well."
In a veiled dig at senior Sena leader Sanjay Raut, a confidante of party chief Uddhav Thackeray, Shelar said the leader continues his mischievous acts and for that sometimes he needs NCP chief Sharad Pawar and sometimes Sanjay Nirupam.

Referring to Nirupam's past association with Sena, Shelar said finally "old shiv sainik" has come to help.
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Shelar said his party was being opposed because of the fight it has wedged against black money and corruption.
In a dig at the estranged ally Sena, he said the alliance with BJP was cancelled as it took action against corruption at octroi collection points in Mumbai.
"Some BMC contractors were jailed because of their deeds. We also set up special investigation team against those involved in corrupt practices at octroi points of Mumbai city. That's why alliance with BJP has been cancelled," Shelar said.

Referring to collapse of slab of public toilet that claimed three lives in suburban Mankhurd, Shelar said it was the fallout of "shoddy" work.
"This is nothing but 'narbali' (human sacrifice) and those involved in the incident should be shown their place during BMC elections," the BJP leader said.
In his address, state unit BJP president Raosaheb Danve said, "BJP, as a political party, is growing faster in state and its social base is expanding too. There are many corporators and municipal council chiefs from scheduled castes that have won on BJP's ticket. It is a clear indication of party's growing acceptance and the trend will continue in BMC elections as well.