The Janata Dal (Secular) and its Left Front allies, the CPI and CPI-M, together will be fielding about 100 candidates in select constituencies of the 227 in the ensuing BMC polls. Speaking to the ADC, JD-S spokesperson Prabhakar Narkar clarified that the JD-S and its Left Front allies are not part of the Republican Left Democratic Front (RLDF) alliance.
The JD-S will contest about 25 seats while the CPI will contest 22 seats and the CPI-M 18. Besides this, the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) is likely to contest one to three seats. The Left Front combine is being supported by a miniscule RPI faction led by Rajaram Kharat in the civic polls, disclosed Narkar.
The areas where the JD-S is likely to field its candidates include Jogeshwari (east and west, Malwani (Malad), Chinchpokli, Delisle Road, Govandi, Ghatkopar, Andheri and Naigaon.
Narkar added that the Left Front allies could have friendly contests in those constituencies, where they do not reach any consensus on seat sharing. So far, 10 of the JD-S candidates have filed their nomination papers for the polls.