Sena to avenge Chimur's loss to BJP

Varanasi, Oct 8 (UNI) Stung by the loss of its claim on Chimur assembly seat in Maharashtra to two decade old coalition partner BJP, the Shiv Sena here has decided to contest itself in the mayoral election here slated for October 31.

For the first time, the Sena is contesting the polls to elect the new mayor of Varanasi, with an object of not tasting triumph at the hustings, but to ensure the defeat of BJP, which is aiming for hat-trick of wins in mayorial polls here.

''We are solely contesting the elections to ensure the defeat of BJP in their citadel Varanasi, to avenge the loss of our claim on the Chimur assembly seat,'' said District Party President Gulshan Kapoor, also the Sena candidate for the post of city mayor.

''They (BJP) have snatched from us the claim to contest from Chimur, our stronghold. They would have to compensate our loss in Maharastra with their defeat in Varanasi, from where in the last two mayorial polls, BJP has emerged victorious by convincing margin,'' he added.

''We might only pull 10,000 to 15,000 votes, but still ensure the defeat of BJP, as both the parties share a common supporter base,'' Mr Kapoor claimed, adding that he was contesting the mayorial election on the directions of Sena top brass in Mumbai.

In the past, two local body polls, BJP's Saroj Singh and Amarnath Yadav had triumphed by a convincing margin.

The BJP's prospects of scoring a hat-trick of wins in mayorial elections have been further weakened by its election managers, who have fielded a young but new face in Kaushalendra Singh.

Besides, outgoing mayor and former Uttar Pradesh minister Amarnath Yadav, after failing to find favour with state party higher-ups, to prove himself second time lucky as mayor, has managed to get a ticket for son Ashok Yadav from Bharatiya Janashakti Party of former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti. This is likely to further dent the BJP's chances of victory.

UNI ARS ATI VD RS1741