Civic re-elections to 8 wards could change equations

Mumbai, Aug 23 (UNI) The State Election Commission yesterday had announced October 7 as the date for re-elections in eight civic wards in Mumbai and the results may have a bearing on the ruling Shiv Sena BJP regime in the city.

Shiv Sena in all had 83 councillors in the ccorporation and has been reduced to 77 with the death of a corporator Kamlakar S Jamsandekar and the disqualification of five others for submitting fake caste certificates. The Sena has the support of 29 councillors from the BJP, two from Akhil Bhartiya Sena and four independent councillors taking their tally to 112.

The Congress, on the other hand, had 71 corporators and one more was added after the small causes court announced the runner up as the winner in one of the wards where the winning councillor Lalji Shaikh had submitted fake caste certificate taking their tally to 72.

The Congress enjoys the support of 14 NCP councillors, six from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (one reduced for submitting fake caste certificate), three from the Republican Party of India, one from Bahujan Samaj Party and five independents, taking their tally to 101.

The Samajwadi Party has not yet declared support to any party and is expected to be neutral as Shiv Sena had supported Mohsin Haider a SP candidate to be nominated to the corporation.

The results of the by-polls may affect the calculation, if Congress combine manages to win all the seats and garner more support from parties like SP, to uproot the Shiv Sena-BJP combine.

Group leader of the NCP Niyaz Ahmed Vanu said, ''There is no rule in the corporation law, wherein a no-confidence motion can be passed against the Mayor and the Mayor cannot be challenged till the two and a half year term is over.'' Similar is the case of the Deputy Mayor, he added.

Moreover the various committees that are formed by the party cannot be challenged till at least one year of its formation, and will be changed after the completion of the term, said officials from the corporation. The saffron alliance may lose some of the committees if the results of the by-polls are not in their favour.

Raj Hans Singh, the Opposition Leader in the corporation said that since most of the cases are in the small cause court, they are optimistic of getting a favourable order from the court next month where the runner ups will be declared the winner.

UNI