6 MNS corporators in BMC join Shiv Sena

Mumbai, Oct 13 (PTI) Six out of seven corporators of theRaj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) todayjoined the Shiv Sena, giving the pa...

Mumbai, Oct 13 (PTI) Six out of seven corporators of theRaj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) todayjoined the Shiv Sena, giving the party, which rules theBrihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, an edge over the BJP.

With this, Shiv Sena's strength in the BMC, the country'srichest municipal body, has increased to 90, eight more thanthat of BJP, a senior Sena leader said.

Of late, relations between the Sena and BJP, which are inalliance at the Centre and in Maharashtra, have been strained.

MNS corporators Dilip Lande, Archana Bhalerao, SnehalMore, Datta Narvankar, Parashuram Kadam and Ashwini Matekarjoined the Shiv Sena in presence of its chief UddhavThackeray.

Addressing the media after inducting the corporators inthe party, Uddhav Thackeray, in an apparent reference to thefact that the MNS is an offshoot of Shiv Sena, said nobodyshould accuse the Sena of "poaching" as this was homecoming.

"Poaching took place in Arunachal Pradesh and Goa. Today,it was only 'Ghar Wapsi'," he said, adding there was noulterior motive behind the move.

"They (BJP) must have realised our strength now afterseeing what can we do in one day," Uddhav Thackeray said.

Dilip Lande, one of the six corporator, said the mainreason behind joining the Sena was "the BJP's plan to oust theMarathi mayor from his post".

"We joined the Sena for the welfare of the Marathipeople," he said.

Shiv Sena leader Anil Parab said he has written a letterto the Konkan division commissioner, informing him about theinduction of six MNS corporators in the party.

MNS spokesperson Avinash Abhyankar said if thesecorporators had defected to the Sena, then "appropriate actionwill be initiated against them".

After winning a by-election in suburban Bhandupyesterday, BJP's tally in the 227-member BMC house rose to 82.

Another by-election, necessitated by the death of BJPcorporator Shailaja Girkar from Kandivali, is yet to be held.

The Shiv Sena also has the support of four Independentcorporators, while the BJP has the support of twoIndependents.

Manoj Kotak, group leader of the BJP in the BMC, termedthe induction of MNS corporators in the Shiv Sena as "betrayalof voters".

He said, "This is not just horse-trading, but a betrayalof promise made to the Mumbaikars. We have demanded thatKonkan commissioner, police commissioner and the Anti-Corruption Bureau investigate the matter and initiate actionagainst the the mastermind of this episode." PTI APM MM VT KRKNSD.

This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.

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