MUMBAI: The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) election results have reignited hope of the Thackeray cousins, Uddhav and Raj, getting back together. Chandrakant Vaidya, their 69-year-old maternal uncle, is trying to get them together as the Shiv Sena had won 52 seats, nine short of a majority in the KDMC, which the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has. He said that Uddhav was almost ready but Raj was hesitant.
"Fortunately, Raj's MNS has nine corporators, which is enough for Uddhav's Shiv Sena. I am trying both together, at least to reach the magic figure of 61. I have spoken to both about it," Vaidya, known as Chandumama, told TOI.
"Uddhav is almost ready but Raj said that he will think about it and let me know," said Vaidya, the brother of Uddhav's mother Meenatai and Raj's mother Kundatai.
Vaidya added, "I will try my best. Both should come together, it is my dream. This is the right opportunity for both to work together for the development of Kalyan-Dombivli. Even the Marathi manoos of Kalyan-Dombivli would like to see them together."
Sources, however, said that Uddhav was in touch with the BJP and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding an alliance in te KDMC. "The problem is sharing of the mayor's post during the five-year period, as well as other committees' chairmanship. Once that is finalised, talks will proceed," the sources added.
The BJP and Sena are apparently wooing the independents. There were reports that senior Sena-BJP leaders have considered coming together to form an alliance with certain terms and condition. But local senior BJP leader denied the reports.
The mayor will be elected on November 11, during Diwali. KDMC commissioner E Ravindran said filing of nomination papers for the post will be from November 7-9. The present mayor's term ends on November 13.
Sena names doing the rounds for the post include Dipesh Mhatre, Mallesh Shetty, Rajendra Develekar and Ramesh Mahatre. Dipesh Mahatre, son of senior Sena leader Punadlik, is a three-time corporator and is said to be a strong contender. He belongs to the Aagri community, which has a huge population in Kalyan-Dombivli and 60 of the 120 corporators are from it.
25% newly-elected corporators have criminal cases against them: Report
Pradeep Gupta
Kalyan: Nearly 25% of the newly-elected corporators of the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation have criminal cases against them. This was revealed after the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Maharashtra Election Watch analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 119 out of 120 winners in the recent elections.
One affidavit was not uploaded at the time of compiling the report. Nearly 77% of them studied below or up to HSC, while 60% are crorepatis. Twenty-six of those corporators have serious criminal cases, like murder, robbery and extortion, registered against them.
