BJP,RPI leaders meet NGOs to woo Muslims

He said since the Shiv Sena,BJP and former Lok Sabha MP Ramdas Athavale’s faction of the RPI were to contest the BMC polls together,the Muslim organisations in the meeting held on Monday had asked them to leave aside some seats for members of the community to get its support. The meeting was also attended by BJP state unit chief Sudhir Mungantiwar.

The organisations had been asked to form a core committee and give its list of demands and seats sought to the party.

Azam said the minority morcha felt the party needed to nominate Muslim candidates in civic wards where the number of Muslim voters was substantial. He claimed that of the 227 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) wards,around 65,including about 16 seats contested by the BJP in the 2007 polls,had a sizeable number of Muslim voters. However,the BJP had fielded just one Muslim candidate—Shakila Ansari —from the eastern suburbs in the previous civic polls.

Azam said it was essential for the BJP to field nominees in seats which had a sizeable Muslim presence to increase its vote base. “Political ambitions (of the party’s minority workers) must be realised,” he said,adding that nominating Muslim candidates from wards dominated by their community made more political sense and will also add to the kitty of the party’s voters.

However,a senior BJP leader said a decision on fielding more Muslim candidates will be taken by the party only after consultations with senior leaders. He added that leaving aside more number of seats for the Muslim community or organisations could prove troublesome as the saffron allies also needed to concede seats to Athavale’s party. “However,the three parties are thinking in this regard,” he added.

In 2007,BJP MLC Pasha Patel had organised a campaign to press for the implementation of the Justice Rajinder Sachar Committee report,which looked into the socio-economic backwardness of the Muslim community.

Sena corporator from Borivali disqualified

Shiv Sena corporator from Borivali East Sunil Chavan was disqualified after his caste certificate was declared invalid. An official from the BMC’s election department said Chavan was disqualified under Section 16 (i) c of the MMC Act. Earlier,Sena corporator from Bhandup,Meenakshi Patil,had been disqualified after she carried out illegal construction in her house. Chavan was not elected as the corporator,but was appointed after MNS candidate Shirish Chaughule was initially disqualified for an invalid caste certificate.