Seat-sharing talks on for BJP-Shiv Sena in Thane, decision awaited

The BJP and Shiv Sena are treading cautiously before committing to contest the upcoming elections to the Thane Municipal Corporation in an alliance with a decision expected in the next two days reported news agency PTIThane is considered the home turf of Shiv Sena leader and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde A political dispute had erupted recently after some Shiv Sena workers crossed over to the BJP in Thane districtSenior leaders in both parties will take a final decision on the alliance as well as on a seatsharing formula said Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske on Saturday a day after BJP and Shiv Sena leaders met in Thane to discuss the contours of the electoral contest reported PTIBJP MLA Sanjay Kelkar said the meeting was aimed at directing the Mahayutis election strategy It was attended by senior leaders public representatives officebearers and grassroots workers of both parties reported PTIKelkar said the leaders expressed determination to contest the elections with a focus on public interest development and decisive victory under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shinde reported PTIThe longawaited elections to 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra including the allimportant Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC will be held on January 15 and the counting of votes will take place the next dayAfter the poll schedule was announced CM Fadnavis had said that the BJP and Sena will contest together in the majority of placesMumbai will reject BJPs religious politics voters will focus on core civic issues says GaikwadMeanwhile Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad on Saturday said the BJPs religious politics and double standards would be rejected by the voters of the metropolis who will focus on core civic issues reported PTIPolls to 29 municipal corporations including Mumbai will take place on January 15 while votes will be counted on the next dayWhenever elections come the BJP starts playing religious politics Gaikwad said in a statement reported PTIShe said while BJPs Mumbai unit chief Ameet Satam claims NCPs Nawab Malik is unacceptable the Ajit Pawarled partys state president Sunil Tatkare holds discussions with senior BJP leader Ashish Shelar reported PTIThe BJP says Nawab Malik is unwanted yet his MLA daughter Sana Malik votes in favour of the BJP government This clearly exposes the partys double standards she said reported PTIGaikwad said the BJPs approach of seeking to remain in power enjoying its benefits and resorting to religious politics during elections is evident to the people of MumbaiMumbaikars will not be misled by this They will vote on real civic issues such as roads traffic congestion clean drinking water and air quality the Lok Sabha MP addedWith inputs from PTI