Cong minority cell seeks 60 seats in BMC elections

The minorities cell of the Mumbai Congress has demanded 60 seats in the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation election.

Minorities cell coordinator Nizamuddin Rayeen said they had also sought immediate implementation of the recent party announcement of a seven per cent reservation for minorities within the 27 per cent reserved for Other Backward Castes. We think 60 seats to be contested by various minorities is a reasonable number, he said. We are enthusiastic about the announcement of a reservation for minorities within the reservation for OBCs. We think this should be implemented right away,in time for the BMC elections.

The Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party are engaged in discussions for a prepoll alliance and seat-sharing for elections to the BMC,the richest municipal corporation in the country with an annual budget in excess of Rs 21,000 crore. While the NCP has made an initial demand of 60-80 seats,senior Congress leaders have maintained that the seat-sharing will reflect ground realities though the party is committed to forming an alliance with the NCP.

Muslim leaders in the Congress,meanwhile,have demanded action against policemen involved in allegedly framing Muslim youths in various criminal cases,including the 2006 Malegaon bomb blast case. A delegation,led by Congress legislator and guardian minister for Mumbai suburbs Arif Naseem Khan,had recently met senior party leaders in New Delhi and demanded suitable action against such policemen.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram