Sena loses MNS’ support in Ambernath council

In a major development, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Wednesday withdrew support to the Shiv Sena in the Ambernath Municipal Council, reducing them to a minority.

In a major development, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Wednesday withdrew support to the Shiv Sena in the Ambernath Municipal Council, reducing them to a minority.

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The MNS has joined hands with the Opposition Congress-Nationalist Congress Party – Republican Party of India alliance for the elections of chairmen of six statutory committees in the council.

With this development, the Sena, with the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party and independents, commands the support of 24 members in the council, out of a total of 50.

Its previous tally was 30. The Sena has been in power in the Ambernath council for the last two years. Getting a member elected as chairman to these six committees will now be difficult for the Sena.

The MNS defended its action saying: “In the last two years, the situation in Ambernath has deteriorated substantially, with the municipality facing several crises. The Sena has not been sensitive to problems,” said Kaka Mandale, president, MNS (Kalyan district).

Mandale further said that nothing had been done on the Sena’s manifesto promise of building a crematorium in the eastern region of Ambernath, causing inconvenience to locals.

Dismissing allegations of non-governance, Sunil Choudhari, president, Ambernath Municipal Council and a Sena member said: “In the last two years, we have carried out development work worth Rs20 crore and another set of works worth Rs60 crore have been sanctioned.”

He also said that the crematorium was on the agenda, but the issue was pending before the Bombay high court because of a problem in acquiring the land.

The MNS, which had helped the Sena gain a majority in the Thane Corporation this year, has been slighted every since the Sena did not reciprocate their gesture in Nashik mayoral elections.