BMC hung verdict: BJP won't ally with Congress at any cost, says Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday categorically stated that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won't ally with Congress at any cost for taking control over Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

In an apparent reference to Shiv Sena, Fadnavis said if any party wants to align with the Congress, it's is free to go, BJP will not say a single word.

"We will take along those who come with us, but proceed without those who don't come with us," he said, addressing a rally at the state BJP office.

"We (BJP) will go as per our path, taking along those who come with us," he said.

"BJP is a party which fights ideology with ideology. Whether we bag power (in BMC) or not, we will never go with the Congress," the CM said.

Fadnavis' statement comes a day after a Congress leader leader confirmed to IANS that the Shiv Sena did approach the party for an alliance in Mumbai, but the party did not show interest.

In the fiercely contested BMC polls, the ruling BJP finished close second to Shiv Sena, while it pulled off a stellar performance in other civic and local bodies polls winning in eight out of the 10 municipal corporations.

While the Shiv Sena emerged on the top with 84 seats, the BJP was a close second at 82, and claiming the support of at least four independents, announced it would stake claim to the key post of Mayor.

The tally of Shiv Sena, which emerged as the single largest party after the counting on Thursday, has risen to 87 corporators with three party rebels who won as Independent nominees returning to its fold yesterday.

The BJP gained hugely in nine other major civic bodies of Maharashtra as well.

With BJP and Shiv Sena finishing neck-to-neck in the BMC elections, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said that both parties have no option but to come together again.

Speaking to a Marathi TV channel. Gadkari said, “there is no option for his party and Shiv Sena, but to come together,” adding that the decision, however, would have to be taken by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.

Meanwhile, differences in the Congress over considering the option of enabling a Shiv Sena candidate to become mayor of Mumbai today came to the fore as a senior party leader strongly opposed the idea.

"I take strong objection to any discussion even of having any tie up or indirect support to the Shiv Sena in the BMC," party's former city chief Gurudas Kamat said, adding he has informed Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi of his opinion.

With the bitterly fought elections to BMC resulting in a fractured verdict, thinking is strong in the Maharashstra Congress that it should consider the option of enabling the Shiv Sena to foist its candidate as mayor of the city, as a tactical move to sharpen the rift in the saffron camp.

Sena continued to maintain that the coveted Mayor's post will be held by it only, discounting the chances of a post-poll pact with the BJP.