BJP hints at going alone in Thane civic body elections

Thane, Mar 4: BJP on Friday hinted at contesting the Thane Municipal Corporation elections alone and said the party has started its ground work for the polls.

The mood among BJP workers is, the party should contest the civic body polls alone, BJP's Thane district president Sandeep Lele said. He however said all decisions would be taken by the committee members and not an individual.

"Workers decide and the president presides," Lele said. "BJP fared well in the last state Legislative Assembly polls. If we put in more effort, we can get good numbers in the civic body elections scheduled later this year," the district BJP chief said.

"Booth-level activities are underway and party workers have been assigned responsibilities for a systematic approach to the elections," he said.

Lele also claimed that a number of current and former corporators are in talks with BJP and they might join the party in a couple of months.

To a question on whether Shiv Sena would keep its word regarding granting the post of chairman of the standing committee of Thane Municipal Corporation to BJP, the party's district chief said, he was hopeful for the same.

The date for elections to the standing committee of Thane civic body is yet to be announced. Speaking on the constitution of BJP's Thane unit, he said, "The district unit comprises of 91 members of which at least 30 are women. Representation has been given to every group."

Harshala Bubera has been appointed the party's Mahila Morcha chief for Thane, Lele said. "There are eight vice presidents, four general secretaries and eight secretaries in the unit, besides those leading the frontal organisations," he said.

"There are a dozen other persons who are in the list as special invitees. They include MLAs, MPs, city corporators and chief of Maharashtra BJP Mahila Morcha Madhavi Naik," Lele said.

PTI