Mumbai Mayoral poll: Congress to put up candidate

Congress, which won 31 seats in the last month's Mumbai civic elections, has decided to contest the March 8 Mayoral poll.
Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam told PTI that he has approached the Samajwadi Party and the NCP to support his party's nominee.
"I have approached leaders of SP and NCP to support the Congress nominee (in the Mayoral poll) if they are not in favour of (Shiv) Sena and BJP. Leaders of the two parties have told me that they will discuss the issue with their party leaders and get back," Nirupam said.
Finalisation of the Congress candidate for the post of mayor will be done in a day or two, he said.

In the recently-held BMC polls, the Shiv Sena won 84 seats, BJP 82, Congress was relegated to the third spot with 31 seats, NCP got nine and Raj Thackeray's MNS won seven seats.
Sena has claimed support of four independents while BJP has claimed support of one independent.

In the poll, there is no need for any party to have 114 members to win the Mayor's post. A candidate getting the highest number of votes from those present at the time of voting will be the winner.
If BJP decides to contest the Mayoral poll, the role of Congress and other smaller parties come into picture.

Congress sources said the party is keen to ensure Sena wins in the mayor election. However it cannot be seen going with the Shiv Sena officially.
As abstaining from the vote would be seen as indirect support to the Shiv Sena, the party decided to put up a candidate, the sources said.