BJP corporators extend support to Shiv Sena's BMC Mayor Candidate Vishwanath Mahadeshwar

Mumbai: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporators on Wednesday extended support to Shiv Sena's Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Mayor Candidate Vishwanath Mahadeshwar.

The BJP's decision paves the way for a Shiv Sena Mayor to sail through easily.

The development comes after decks were cleared for the election of Shiv Sena candidate as the Mayor of Mumbai after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on March 4 announced that the BJP will not contest the March 8 Mayoral polls.

Fadnavis had said his BJP is ready to offer support to the Shiv Sena but would not take any post, including of Deputy Mayor, Leader of Opposition, or chairmanship of any committees in the country's richest and biggest civic body.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has 84 corporators in the BMC while the BJP falls two short of the formers count in the cash-rich civic body.

Earlier, Four independents had extended support to the Shiv Sena, while the ABS had offered to support the BJP, which were yet still far away from the magic figure of 114 for electing their Mayor.