BJP discusses option of alliance with Raj, then discards it
In its meeting to decide strategy for the 2012 civic polls, the city unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday discussed the option to forge an alliance with Raj Thackeray- led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. Later, BJP against it.
In its meeting to decide strategy for the 2012 civic polls, the city unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday discussed the option to forge an alliance with Raj Thackeray- led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. Later, BJP against it.
“Our alliance with the Sena is intact. The discussions were held to ensure how we will be able to win the 72 seats on which we put up candidates in the last elections,” said Raj Purohit, BJP Mumbai president.
BJP has 29 corporators in the house of 227.
Senior BJP leaders held a brainstorming session in Uttan to discuss the party’s strategy for the 2012 civic polls.
“We did discuss the option to have an alliance with the MNS or get them on board along with the Sena. However, considering the strong opposition by the Sena, getting MNS as third partner is difficult,” said a key BJP functionary, requesting anonymity.
The north Indian leaders of the party opposed the option to dump the Sena and forge an alliance with the MNS saying that the move could be counter-productive, he added. Finally, BJP leaders decided to put all its eggs in the Sena’s basket.
During the 2007 civic elections, Sena had contested from 155 seats and the BJP from 72.
The party has decided to depute a two-member team of senior party functionaries in each of its 72 constituencies to chart its election strategy.
Purohit rapped
City BJP president Raj Purohit had a tough time defending himself as some party workers raised the issue of his name emerging in a ULC scam. In probe being conducted following a petition filed by BJP spokesman Madhav Bhandari in land scam in Pune, it is being said that Purohit, who held charge as minister of state for housing and ULC during Sena-BJP government, could have played a role. “How can we stage agitations against corruption when out president is seen as an accused in the land scam,” said a party worker. BJP central representative Venkaiah Naidu asked Purohit to come clean on the issue.