Ajit Pawar–led NCP poised to join BJP–Shiv Sena in Sangli civic body; mayor’s post for BJP, Congress tries counter alliance

KOLHAPUR: Ajit Pawar-led NCP is most likely to join the BJP-Shiv Sena combine to form the ruling alliance in the Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad Municipal Corporation, as talks continued in Kolhapur and both sides remained positive.

NCP had contested the polls alone in Sangli and won 16 of the 33 seats it fought, mainly denting BJP. Congress emerged as the second-largest party with 18 seats and is set to be the principal opposition party, leaving no chance for NCP to stay in opposition.

BJP won 39 seats, short of one seat to cross the halfway mark, while Shiv Sena won two. Both could join forces and meet the required number. According to the arrangements under discussion, BJP is set to install its mayor, while Shiv Sena is offered the deputy mayor's post, and NCP may secure the chairman of the standing committee position.

"BJP has approached us to join them, citing ‘stability' for the full term. We are pondering on this and will soon take a final call," said Padmakar Jagdale, NCP's Sangli city president.

Of NCP's 16 wins this time, it had defeated BJP in nine seats. In the previous term, BJP had won 41 seats, which was enough. This time, even if BJP ties up with Sena, it will have a wafer-thin margin if it left the NCP out. Moreover, Congress is likely to manoeuvre and may try to dislodge BJP.

Congress politicians claimed that not crossing the halfway mark is a defeat for BJP and that the electorate has largely voted to oust BJP. They mocked the BJP for not getting the numbers, though its netas had claimed they would. Before the results day, BJP politicians had claimed their party would get at least 55 seats in Sangli.

Congress MLA Vishwajeet Kadam said his party is trying to get into power in Sangli with the help of parties with similar ideologies. In the case of a Congress and NCP tie-up, the tally would go up to 34. With NCP (SP), which won three seats, the tally could be 39. In that scenario, Shiv Sena would hold the key with two seats.

"We have been approached by parties with an ideology similar to ours. We have the highest strike rate of winning seats in Sangli. The verdict is largely a mandate to us," said Kadam.