Rons Bantwal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Jan 13: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Asia’s largest world-class municipal body and India’s richest and biggest municipal corporation, is all set for elections on January 15. Following the 2017 civic polls, the BMC has been reorganised with the addition of nine new wards — three each in the city area (Worli, Parel and Byculla), western suburbs (Bandra, Andheri and Dahisar) and eastern suburbs (Kurla, Chembur and Govandi). Voting will be held for a total of 227 seats, and with these additions, 236 corporators will govern the BMC in the coming term.

Along with national and regional political parties and alliances, a large number of independent candidates are also in the fray. To form the civic body that delivers essential services under state government control, a simple majority of 114 seats is required.

Polling for the BMC will take place throughout Thursday, January 15. On the same day, elections will also be held for 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra. The ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) are contesting separately in most municipal corporations.

For the BMC, the Mahayuti alliance comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party (135 seats), Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction – 89 seats) and the Republican Party of India (Athawale – 15 seats). The Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance includes Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction – 160 seats), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (53 seats) and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar – 11 seats). The Indian National Congress (I) is contesting 151 seats in alliance with the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (49 seats) and Rashtriya Samaj Party (5 seats). The Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) is contesting independently in 37 seats.

Apart from these, candidates from national, state and regional (local) parties, along with as many as 585 independent (non-party) candidates, are contesting the elections, making the contest highly interesting.

Around 60 parties in the fray

Major parties contesting include the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), Republican Party of India (Athawale), Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS, NCP (Sharad Pawar), Indian National Congress (I), Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, NCP (Ajit Pawar), Samajwadi Party (70 seats), Aam Aadmi Party (65), Bahujan Samaj Party (80), Communist Party of India (Marxist) (9), All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM – 32), All India Majlis-e-Inquilab-e-Millat (2), Indian Union Muslim League (1), Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (3), Peace Party (13), Sanjay Chhatrapati Shasan (7), Lokneta Vinayakrao Mete Vikas Aghadi (5), Bahujan Mukt Party (6), Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Party (3), Sambhaji Brigade Party (7), Janata Congress Party (1), Jan Parivartan Party (1), Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha (2), Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha Maharashtra Pradesh (2), Baliraj Sena (2), Janata Dal (Secular) (4), Republican Sena (4), Welfare Party of India (2), Bharatiya Communist Party (4), Rashtriya Swarajya Sena (1), Republican Party of India (3), Republican Party of India (Khoripa) (10), Republican Party of India (Democratic) (2), Uttar Bharatiya Vikas Sena (13), Bahujan Republic Socialist Party (3), Bharatiya Shetkari Kamgar Paksh (3), Bharatiya Jan Sampark Party (1), Rashtriya Samaj Party (5), Bharatiya Manavtavadi Party (2), Republican Sena (1), Republican Sena Maharashtra State (1), Rashtriya Mahaswarajyokti Party (1), Rashtriya Mahaswaraj Bhoomi Party (1), Akhil Bharatiya Sena (4), People’s Republican Party (2), Desh Janhit Party (1), All India Forward Bloc (2), Bhoomi Adhikar Party (2), OBC Bahujan Aghadi (1), Lok Hind Party (1), Bharatiya Kisan Party (1), Seva Bahujan Aghadi (1), Bahujan Republic Socialist Party (1), Desh Janahit Party (1), Prahar Janshakti (1), along with 585 independent candidates. In total, around 1,700 candidates are contesting the BMC elections.

This time, 879 women and 821 men are contesting, marking a strong presence of women candidates. Of the total seats, 127 are reserved for women, including eight seats reserved for women from Scheduled Castes and one seat for a woman from the Scheduled Tribe category.

With candidates from nearly 60 parties in the fray, there has been a noticeable rise in aspirants who are speakers of Tulu, Kannada and Konkani languages. Many such candidates have shown keen interest by filing nominations and are hopeful of victory.

Among prominent Kannadiga candidates are Ashish B Fernandes of Congress (I) from R/N Ward No. 7, Dahisar West; Shivanand N Shetty (former corporator) of BJP from R/C Ward No. 9, Borivali Gorai; Jayashree Bangera of Shiv Sena (UBT) from R/C Ward No. 15, Borivali West; Kannada-speaking actress and Marathi film personality Nisha (Parulekar) Suresh Bangera of BJP from Thakur Village Ward No. 25, Kandivli East; John Dennis of BJP from P/N Ward No. 34, Malad East; Tanvi Dinesh Rao (Kukyan), originally from Mulki, of Shiv Sena (UBT) from P/S Ward No. 50, Goregaon West; Santosh Vasant (Yadav) of Samajwadi Party from K/West Ward No. 59, Versova, Andheri West; Lorna D’Souza (Ravat), originally from Sasthan, Udupi, of Shiv Sena (UBT) from K/N Ward No. 73, Jogeshwari East; Jagadishwari Jagadish Amin, originally from Nitte, Karkala, of BJP from K/E Ward No. 82, Andheri East; advocate Melissa B D’Souza of Congress (I) from K/E Ward No. 83, daughter of former BMC corporator Winifred D’Souza; Clive Doyas, originally from Barkur, Udupi, of Shiv Sena (UBT) from K/E Ward No. 86, Marol Sahar; Suresh Keshav Acharya, originally from Thirthahalli, Shivamogga district, from H/East Ward No. 90, Kalina, Santacruz East; Hari Shastri alias Saliyan, originally from Hejamadi, Mulki, of Shiv Sena (UBT) from H/E Ward No. 95, Bandra East; Karen S D’Mello of Congress (I) from H/W Ward No. 101, Bandra Khar West; Shreya Shetty of Congress (I) from S Ward No. 112, Kannamwar Nagar, Ghatkopar East; Harish Vasu Karkera, originally from Shirur, Udupi, of Congress (I) from M/E Ward No. 130, Shivajinagar, Ghatkopar East; Pralhad Shetty of Congress (I) from L Ward No. 159, Sakinaka, Kurla West; and Bhaskar R Shetty, former corporator and native of Inna, Karkala, contesting from G/N Ward No. 188, Dharavi, on behalf of Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), among many other Kannadiga candidates in the fray.