BMC election 2017: Stakes are high for Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray
Highlights
- Contest seen mainly between the Shiv Sena and the BJP
- BMC has an annual budget of 37,000 crores, more than that of some states
- Votes will be counted on Thursday
A record 55 per cent voting, the highest in 25 years, was recorded yesterday as Mumbai voted to decide who will control the country's richest civic body -- the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation or BMC. The contest was seen as one mainly between the Shiv Sena and the BJP. The turn-out for 11 Zilla Parishads and 118 Panchayat Samiti polls in the state was 69 per cent, election officials said, adding that all figures were preliminary and can change. Ahead of the elections, the Shiv Sena called off its two-decade old alliance with the BJP and the two parties have engaged in a shrill, often personal, campaign. Voting was also held for nine other municipalities in Maharashtra today. The BMC has an annual budget of 37,000 crores, more than that of some states.
Here are the 10 latest developments:
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis thanked the people of Mumbai last evening for coming out to vote. "Thank you #Mumbai for the record voting percentage & people from all Municipal Corporations & ZP for participating in festival of democracy!" he tweeted. The nation's commercial capital and the richest civic body usually record a dismal voter turnout.
The BMC election is a major prestige battle with the Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray leading their parties from the front, attacking each other ferociously. "If the BJP loses, I'll take the responsibility and if we win credit goes to the party," Mr Fadnavis has said.
If the Shiv Sena loses control of the BMC, which it has dominated for two decades, its loss of political space will be complete after the BJP dominated the last national and assembly elections redefining itself as the senior partner in the alliance after playing junior to the Sena for years.
In what is being called a "mini-assembly election," voting was also held for nine other major civic bodies, including those in Nagpur, Thane, Pune and Nashik, plus for 11 zilla parishads and 118 panchayat samitis.
This is the second part of civic elections in Maharashtra. In the first part held over five days ago, the BJP emerged as a major gainer, making significant inroads in the Congress and NCP's traditional strongholds.
Top political leaders, Bollywood actors, and other celebrities came early to vote for the BMC, which has a budget of Rs 37,052 crore for the current financial year to cater to a population of around 18.3 million.
Shaina NC of the BJP cycled to vote at the Napansea Road polling booth but said she could not find her name on the list. However, the authorities then helped Ms NC complete the formalities after which she was able to cast the vote. Sharad Pawar, chief of the Nationalist Congress Party, voted in Mumbai's Mahalaxmi. He could not vote for his party as the NCP has not fielded a candidate there.
The Sena and the BJP could not agree over seat sharing leading to the Shiv Sena announcing that the partnership is finished. Udhav Thackeray has said he will be pulling out of the BJP-led state and central governments after the civic polls.
As it has steadily lost ground to the BJP, the Shiv Sena has been playing proxy opposition to the BJP. Sena leaders have taken every opportunity to criticise the Narendra Modi government - from its handling of demonetisation to its Pakistan policy and handling of floods and droughts in the country.
There are 227 seats in the BMC. The Shiv Sena had won 75 seats last time, with the BJP winning 31, the Congress 52 and the NCP 13. Votes will be counted on Thursday.
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