Legislative council poll: Sena, BJP tussle over vote sharing

The election to two seats to Legislative Council from Mumbai turned bitter for the saffron partners as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed its ally Shiv Sena accusing it of indirectly helping the Congress.

The election to two seats to Legislative Council from Mumbai turned bitter for the saffron partners as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed its ally Shiv Sena accusing it of indirectly helping the Congress.

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Fearing cross-voting by some of its disgruntled corporators, the Shiv Sena refused to give its extra votes to the BJP that prompted the latter to react bitterly.

The contest was between Sena’s Ramdas Kadam, Congress’ Bhai Jagtap and BJP’s Madhu Chavan. Each candidate needed 74 votes out of 223 votes available in Mumbai to win.

The election was conducted for seven seats, including two from Mumbai. The result will be declared on Monday. “We are disappointed with the Sena as they did not cast their extra vote for me,” Chavan said.

Fearing that the Congress may poach on its votes, the Sena refused to divert its nine extra votes for the BJP nominee. Out of 225 corporators in the city 223 cast their vote on Friday. Sena candidate Ramdas Kadam remarked: “BJP did not took us in to confidence before declare their candidate.”

“Our alliance won’t be affected by this,” said BJP’s Ashish Shelar. He also alleged that Raj Thackeray led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) voted for Congress party.

“We would not disclose cast votes, as it was secret ballot,” said Shirish Parkar MNS spokeperson.