SP to contest BMC, Maharashtra local body polls on its own; slams Congress

Mumbai, Nov 19 (PTI) The Samajwadi Party (SP) on Wednesday announced it will exit the Opposition's Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance and contest the coming local body elections in Mumbai and elsewhere in Maharashtra on its own.

The decision was taken after the Congress, a prominent member of the MVA, decided to contest the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections independently, said SP leader Abu Asim Azmi.

His party would field candidates in 150 out of 227 seats in the BMC elections, he said, adding, "Across the state, the SP will contest every local election independently.

"A big party like the Congress only wants to take, not give. They do not call us for alliance meetings," he said, asking it to introspect.

Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece `Saamana' too criticised the Congress for trying to project itself as a national party despite its dismal performance in Bihar, the SP leader noted.

"If alliances work properly, results improve. But the Congress does not display leadership," Azmi added.

Slum areas of Mumbai lack clean water and face several other issues, Azmi said, adding that the SP represents farmers, labourers and the poor.

The BMC's ward reservation should be declared at least a year in advance so that candidates can prepare, he demanded.

"We will start distributing forms from November 20. We will contest wherever we have a chance to win. We will fight alone. Last time, only two seats were offered to us without any discussions," he claimed.

The SP leader also accused the BJP-led Maharashtra government of not allocating funds in a fair manner. "If you go to (join hands with) Eknath Shinde or Ajit Pawar, their people get funds. Shivajinagar-Govandi (Azmi's assembly constituency in Mumbai) gets the least money," he claimed.

Azmi also accused the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) of insulting North Indians, and said any party which joins hands with MNS will face electoral losses.

He also pointed to signs that Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin Raj Thackeray may come together for the civic polls. The political situation was changing fast after the Congress decided to go it solo and the Sena (UBT) reacted strongly to it, he stated.

"The Samajwadi Party is a movement. We stand for the poor, the backward and the voiceless. We will continue our struggle alone," Azmi said. PTI ND KRK