Who will rule BMC: Here is how the numbers are adding up

It is clear that no party in Maharashtra is in a position to rule the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in Mumbai. Both the BJP and the Shiv Sena have fallen short of the 114 mark in the 227 member BMC.

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The BJP won 82 while its former ally, the Shiv Sena bagged 84 seats. The Congress was at 31 while the NCP and MNS were reduced to 9 and 7 seats respectively. The Sena has said that the next mayor would be from its party, while the BJP on the other hand appeared confident of ruling the BMC.

The big question is whether the BJP and SS will come together and rule the BMC. If the two parties do patch up, then can comfortably rule the BMC. The BJP's Chandrakant Patil said that it was time to reunite and the fight with the Sena must stop.

If the Sena seeks the support of the Congress which has bagged 31 seats, then it can comfortably rule the BMC. However there is a question mark on that alliance as the two parties have always battled against each other in the state. The BJP on the other hand would require the support of the NCP, MNS and others if it has to reach closer to the magic mark.

Although a very distant possibility, if the BJP manages to bag the support of the NCP, others and the MNS, then it would be able to reach 113 which is still one below the magic mark.

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Whether or not patch up with the Sena is a decision which will be taken by the central leadership of the BJP. Patil said that he is hopeful of a patch up and also added that there is no other way in which the BMC can be ruled. However both Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Sena chief Udhav Thackerey were no-committal on an alliance.

Any post poll alliance between the BJP and Sena will be based on a common minimum agenda. The top brass of the BJP feels that transparency in the functioning of the BMC would be their condition. The BJP may be ready to give up the post of Mayor, but would want to keep with it the post of standing committee chairman. The other option that would be discussed will be to divide all the posts for two-and-a-half-years.

OneIndia News