BMC polls: Won't ally with Congress at any cost, says Fadnavis

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], Feb. 25 (ANI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday ruled out an alliance with the Congress Party to achieve a majority in the Brihanmumbai Municipality Corporation (BMC). "BJP won't ally with Congress at any point or at any cost. Whoever wants to go with them, can go, we won't say a single word," Fadnavis said. The chief minister also hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his transparent brand of politics. Meanwhile, Mumbai Regional Congress Committee, leader Sanjay Nirupam also declined to join hands with the Shiv Sena for control of the country's richest civic body. "We have decided that the Congress party is not going to align with the Shiv Sena for the BMC polls," Nirupam media here. Nirupam said that the some Shiv Sena leaders approached there party, but the Congress has categorically declined, saying that they can't ally with a communal party that does politics based on caste and religion. "We are in talks with other political parties whose ideology matches with us. We will be present as a strong opposition in the BMC," he said. On the other hand, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut dismissed reports of a possible amalgamation with the Congress party saying, "Mayor will be from Shiv Sena only, wait till March 9; We haven't approached Congress for alliance, reports are false." Speculation is rife over the Sena (84 seats) teaming up with the Congress (31 seats) to reach the majority figure of 114 in the 227-member civic body. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 82 of the council's 227 seats and eight out of the ten major municipalities, while the Shiv Sena at 84 is marginally ahead. None of the parties could get near the majority mark of 114 in the mayoral polls. (ANI)