4 Indpendents support Congress in UMC

With the Mayorship in the hands of the Opposition and now enjoying the majority, the stalling of the House proceedings by the Sena-BJP while Makhija watched helplessly during the general body meetings will now be history.

Asked what prompted them to express support to Congress, Punjab told Express Newsline, 8220;We feel that an honest person like Hardas Makhija deserves our support which will make a difference to Ulhasnagar.8221; Makhija Congress was elected Mayor defeating Sena-backed independent candidate Kumar Ailani on April 20. The mayoral poll was marred by the controversial decision by the outgoing mayor Yashaswini Patil who as the presiding authority cast her vote when the counting ended in a tie.

8220;We felt it is wrong to make the citizens suffer due to the politicking,8221; said Jadhav. The four independents denied that they have been offered the chairmanships to civic panels. Purswani said, quot;We haven8217;t asked for anything as a precondition but if he feels like placing some responsibility with us we will not hesitated from accepting it.quot; Now only Kumar Ailani has stayed with the Sena.

Welcoming the support to Congress by the four independents, Makhija said, 8220;It is commendable and in the interest of the city.8221;

Meanwhile, Sena strongman in Thane Anand Dighe denied that the Independents had switched loyalties. quot;They are very much with us and cannot afford to change tracks now,quot; he said. Senior BJP corporator Narendra Rajani, however, felt, 8220;The Congress was counting its eggs a trifle too early,quot; adding quot;Who knows what the reaction of the UPP, RPI and even some Congress members would be when they learn that the Independents who joined them are getting all the plum civic committees.quot; According to him, quot;Once the Sonia-Sharad Pawar factions part ways the Congress will have more confusion in its ranks than it can handle so they should wait before starting the celebrations.quot;