Won't contest against Shiv Sena in mayor elections, says BJP

Fadnavis however did not make it clear which way the BJP would vote during the mayoral polls to be held next week.

The BJP has decided not to put up a candidate for the post of mayor or deputy mayor in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The announcement was made by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday.

"The BJP has decided that it would not put up a candidate for both the posts. We will respect the verdict of the people," Fadnavis said. He said that they will not contest against the Shiv Sena which has decided to field candidates for both the posts.

[BMC elections 2017: These are the Sena nominees for mayor, dy mayor posts]

Fadnavis however did not make it clear which way the BJP would vote during the mayoral polls to be held next week.

There was no clarity on any alliance until Friday. The BJP had won 82 seats, while the Sena had bagged 84. The last date to file nominations for the post of mayor is March 8. Meanwhile, the Congress decided to field a mayoral candidate and said that it would seek the support of the Nationalist Congress Party and the Samajwadi Party. Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam however denied that his party would be indirectly supporting the Sena.

"Both the BJP and the Sena do not subscribe to our ideology," he said, but added that the Congress with 31 seats would not abstain from voting.

OneIndia News