Path for Ganesh Naik after joining BJP would be difficult given the threat of revolt from Shiv Sena in Navi Mumbai

Mumbai: The much anticipated political party hoping of Ganesh Naik, the emperor of Navi Mumbai who quit the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and hopped on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bandwagon on Wednesday may not be that easy. Die hard Shivsainiks from Navi Mumbai are in mood to rebel against senior Naik. As he joined the BJP in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at a mega event in Navi Mumbai, the change of guard in the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) may not be a smooth affair as not all of Naik’s trusted councilors have switched sides to the BJP.

The NMMC has a strength of 111 corporators. Of which 52 are of NCP, Shiv Sena has 38 corporators, 10 are from Congress, BJP has six and are five independent corporators. However, only 48 of the 52 NCP corporators joined the BJP in the presence of Naik and Fadnavis. With BJP and the Independent corporators, Naik and BJP have a wafer thin majority in the NMMC.

Ganesh Naik was seen neutral during last five years as he was upset with the party leadership. In party meeting, Naik has taken a decision to quit NCP and join BJP on Friday. His son Sandeep who was NCP legislator from Airoli had already resigned as legislator and party and had joined BJP last month. Naik senior had quit the Sena in 1999 following serious differences with late Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray over the stone quarrying issue of Navi Mumbai. Since then the Naik family and the Sena have never seen each other eyeball to eyeball.

For the Shiv Sena and sitting BJP Belapur MLA Manda Mhatre, both the Naik father-son duo insisting on Belapur and Airoli assembly seats is a bit too much to swallow for pride. Local Sena leader Vijay Nahata too is keen on the Belapur seat, besides Mhatre herself. In a bid to accommodate the Sena and Ganesh Naik, the BJP might as well decide to shift Naik senior to Thane assembly seat thereby asking it’s sitting MLA Sanjay Kelkar to take the backseat.

The reported move of Ganesh Naik being shifted to Thane assembly constituency has rankled local strongman and Sena minister Eknath Shinde who along with his corporators marched to Sena chief Uddhav Thackerays Matoshree residence in Bandra East recently.The move has already sparked off discontent within the BJP as loyal party cadres are taking sarcastic jibes at Fadnavis remarking that he is busy politically cleansing these leaders of their political sins by accepting them into the party fold.