BJP-Shinde coalition to contest some Maharashtra civic polls separately and others jointly: Fadnavis
The Hindu
Elections are due in various civic bodies in Maharashtra, including the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on October 26 said the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will contest some of the civic polls separately and others in alliance.
Notably, CM Shinde had in August said the “original” Shiv Sena and the BJP will contest the forthcoming elections to civic bodies in Maharashtra together. He had claimed that the party led by him represents the “original” Shiv Sena.
The elections are due in various civic bodies in the State, including the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The Shinde-BJP coalition came to power in Maharashtra on June 30 this year after a rebellion led by Shinde led to the collapse of the ‘Maha Vikas Aghadi’ (MVA) Government headed by Uddhav Thackeray.
Speaking to reporters in Nagpur on October 26, Mr. Fadnavis said, “The BJP and the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shide will contest some civic polls separately, while there will be an alliance in other civic polls. We will definitely do it.”
The schedule for the civic polls will be announced by the State Election Commission, the BJP leader said.
“A schedule announced by the SEC earlier has been challenged in court, hence we need to wait for the court’s decision that would pave way for the civic polls in Maharashtra,” Mr. Fadnavis said.
In 2021, five women from Mayithara, four of them MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) workers, found a common ground in their desire to create a sustainable livelihood by growing vegetables. Rajamma M., Mary Varkey, Valsala L., Elisho S., and Praseeda Sumesh, aged between 70 and 39, pooled their savings, rented a piece of land and began their collective vegetable farming journey under the Deepam Krishi group.