New Delhi: Large size cutouts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his Deputy Devendra Fadnavis came up outside former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s residence ahead of PM’s Mumbai visit, reported PTI.
A ruling leader from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party said that PM Modi’s Thursday visit will boost their morale an help in setting up a “favourable pitch" for the BJP and the Shinde-led Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, which are overdue.
The Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena and BJP are eyeing control over the cash-rich civic body of Mumbai which is currently being governed by an administrator since its term ended in March last year.
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Large size cutouts of the PM, Shinde and other leaders have been put at an intersection near Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray's home in suburban Bandra, the report added.
PM Modi is scheduled to visit Mumbai on Thursday to lay the foundation stone of various projects and inaugurate two Metro lines.
It will also be the first visit of the Prime Minister to Mumbai after the change of power in the state.
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During his visit, PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of several development projects and also inaugurate the 35-km stretch of Mumbai Metro’s 2A and 7 lines. This indicates that the Shinde led government is preparing hard for the civic polls, which could be announced soon after the visit of the Prime Minister.
The PM will lay the foundation stone of 7 STPs (Sewage Treatment Plant) which will be made at the cost of Rs 28,000 crore. These plants will have the capacity to treat 2,464 million litres of sewage water daily.