SS-BJP sure to win four; may add three more: Gadkari

Mumbai, Feb 3 (UNI) Maharashtra BJP president Nitin Gadkari today said the Shiv Sena BJP alliance is in a position to win four municipal corporations, while it may add three more to its kitty by garnering support of small anti-Congress parties.

Talking to reporters, Mr Gadkari said Mumbai, Thane, Nagpur and Ulhasnagar would be under the alliance rule. However, he refused to identify three other municipal corporations in which the alliance would try to capture the power with the support of non-Congress parties.

It may be recalled that the alliance has fared well in Nasik by grabbing 40 seats in the house of 108, while in Pune the alliance has got 45 in the house of 144. However, the party would need support from other parties to grab the power.

''There is an anti-congress wave all over the state and it was evident in corporation elections and the same wave will continue in zila parishad elections followed by assembly elections due in 2009'', said Mr Gadkari, who is considered as the architect of the party's victory in Nagpur.

''The alliance was facing rough weather for the last two years during which several leaders like Raj Thackeray and Narayan Rane left the party while Pramod Mahajan's death was another blow; but the alliance has overcome all the hurdles and proven its potential'', Gadkari observered.

UNI