BJP poaches MNS leaders for BMC polls

MUMBAI: To better its chances of winning the BMC elections in February 2017, the BJP plans to get its recently inducted Marathi-speaking leaders as well as poach

MUMBAI: To better its chances of winning the BMC elections in February 2017, the BJP plans to get its recently inducted Marathi-speaking leaders as well as poach leaders from other parties, including Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), to campaign for it.

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At a meeting held in Lonavala recently, the party decided to ask Ram Kadam and Pravin Darekar, who were recently inducted in the BJP from MNS, to campaign for the BJP and attract Marathi voters, said a source.

Considering the widening rift between the Shiv Sena and BJP, both the parties are likely to contest the elections separately.

According to a source, with the BJP in power in the state, the party feels this is the right time to wrest the civic body from the Sena or at least make its presence significant in the city.

The BJP local leaders are also aware that they are looked at as being pro-Gujarati and want to change this perception.

A senior BJP leader said, “The Sena has a very strong base among Marathi voters since shakhas (local ground-level units in every ward) have helped them create an emotional connect with the masses. By fielding Marathi-speaking leaders, we will try to connect with the Marathi manoos and dispel the notion that we are a pro-Gujarati party.”

The Sena’s voter base — the Marathi belt — was divided in 2012, owing to the emergence of the MNS. With MNS corporators turning to BJP, the latter is hoping that it will get more Marathi votes.