[Maharashtra Chief Minister inaugurates incomplete Mankoli Naka Flyover in Bhiwandi ahead of the local municipal elections. (Photo: Twitter)]
Mumbai: A total of 460 candidates belonging to the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress party (NCP), Samajwadi Party (SP), All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), Konark Vikas Aghadi and others are in the fray for the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation (BNCMC) elections to be held on May 24.
According to the final list of candidates released by Municipal Commissioner Dr Yogesh Mhase (IAS), the ruling Congress party has fielded 64 candidates - the maximum number if comapred with other parties.
The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) which is trying hard to control power in this textile hub located about 50 kms from state capital Mumbai has fielded 57 candidates.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) have formed alliance for the 2017 Bhiwandi Municipal Corporation elections and have fielded a total of 64 candidates - 32 from each of the parties.
Other candidates contesting the elections are 55 of the Shiv Sena, 16 of Konark Vikas Aghadi, 08 of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), 07 of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and 05 of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
Rest including 170 Independent candidates are from Republican Party of India (RPI), Bahujan Maha Sangh, Janata Dal United, Ekta Wadi Sambhaji Brigade and RPI Secular.
The Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation (BNCMC) has a total 90 members to be elected from 23 wards or parbhags of the city.
A maximum 30 candidates are contesting elections from Ward No 04 and Ward No 12 whereas a minimum 07 candidates are trying their luck from Ward No. 22.
On one hand BJP wants to maximum number of seats so that to have its mayor in Bhiwandi, the Shiv Sena reportedly is planning to teach its alliance partner in the state a lesson. There are as many as 10 seats where Sena and BJP candidates are in direct contest with each other.
On 03 other seats though some independent candidates are also in the race, the main contest is between the Sena and BJP.
All eyes are also on the election of Parbhag No. 17 from where Konark Vikas Aghadi group leader and ex Mayor Vilas Patil and Sharad Patil of Shiv Sena are in direct fight. Reports are that the BJP is supporting Vilas Patil from behind the scene so that Sharad Patil of Sena is defeated.
The existing body of the Bhiwandi - Nizampur Municipal Corporation fromed after 2012 election has 26 members from Congress, 16 members from Shiv Sena, 16 from Samajwadi Party (SP), 09 from Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), 08 from Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and 07 from Konark Vikas Aghadi. The remaining are Independents.