BJP abruptly withdraws from Mumbai Mayor race

In a major climb down, the BJP has withdrawn from the race for post of Mayor of BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Saturday.

Fadnavis said his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is ready to offer support to the Shiv Sena but would not take any post, including of Deputy Mayor, Leader of Opposition, or chairmanship of any committees in the country’s richest and biggest civic body.

“However, if they require any votes, the BJP is ready to offer support to the Shiv Sena and will always vote in favour of progress and development,” he told media persons.

The BJP decision would pave the way for a Shiv Sena mayor to sail through easily at the elections scheduled on March 8.

The Shiv Sena immediately welcomed the BJP decision with Transport Minister and party leader Diwakar Raote saying the BJP has recognised the mandate of the people of Mumbai.

On the other side, Congress spokesperson Raju Waghmare said this was expected since the match between the BJP and the Shiv Sena was “fixed”, while Nationalist Congress Party state President Sunil Tatkare said the BJP move was not surprising, as his party had maintained all along that the Shiv Sena would not implement its threat of leaving the central and state governments.

Meanwhile, Fadnavis added that the BJP corporators would serve as “soldiers of transparency” and keep a watch over the BMC administration – which will now be solely in the hands of the Sena.