In what may warm the cockles of the Shiv Sena, rival Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) led by Raj Thackeray may consider extending support to it in the BMC.

The Shiv Sena, which has a bench strength of 84 in the civic body compared to its estranged ally BJP which has 82 seats, has already managed to secure the support of four independents in the 227 member house. The Sena, which was caught unawares by the BJP’s political gains in Mumbai, needs to get a party man elected as a mayor and also retain control over powerful statutory committees like the standing committee (which has financial powers) and the improvement committee.

“Raj saheb Thackeray is our supreme leader. The party chief will take the correct decision. I am happy that better late than never, they (Shiv Sena) have realised our point,” said senior MNS leader and former legislator Bala Nandgaonkar. Before the BMC elections, Nandgaonkar had visited Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray’s residence of Matoshree in Bandra East as an emissary of his (Uddhav’s) estranged cousin Raj to seek a pre-poll tie up between the Sena and MNS.

Later, Raj explained the overture as one which was aimed at preventing the erosion of the Maharashtrian vote, which could help non-Maharashtrians if BJP gains political pre-eminence. Raj had also alleged that there was a conspiracy underway to sever Mumbai from Maharashtra. “In elections, there are no permanent friends or enemies. In politics, flexibility is very important,” Nandgaonkar added, stating that however, it was not only for the MNS to consider the welfare of Maharashtrians. He pointed to how the Shiv Sena would have gained electorally in case it entered into a tie up with the MNS.