Delimitation leaves BJP old-timers in the lurch

The party is worried about how to rehabilitate old-timers who have lost their wards, reports Sanjeev Shivadekar.

Delimitation of electoral constituencies has put the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a fix. The party is now worried about how to rehabilitate those old-timers who have lost their wards.

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In a meeting of saffron allies for seat sharing for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, BJP leaders urged Sena leaders to ensure rehabilitation of BJP old timers-Parag Alavani, Deputy Mayor Ramesh Medekar, Rajesh Sharma and Arun Deo who have either lost their wards due to reservations or have lost a major chunk of voters after the boundaries of their wards were redrawn according to the delimitation—the restructuring of 227 civic wards according to the census.

Confirming the news of this demand put forward by the BJP in a meeting at Shiv Sena Bhavan on Friday, a senior Sena leader on condition of anonymity said: "It is difficult for the Sena to respond positively to such a request." He further added that if the Sena tries to accommodate the displaced BJP councillors, it would have to face the wrath of its own workers.

Sena spokesperson Subhash Desai said: "The talk between the allies is on and till it comes to a conclusion, I cannot discuss anything on the issue."

BJP spokesperson and General Secretary Vinod Tawde who has been assigned the responsibility of negotiating with Sena since Munde is recuperating from a shoulder injury neither confirmed nor denied, but said: "The picture of which ward would be exchanged and who would contest from which ward will be clear in day or two once seat sharing talks are finalised."