The ruling party is also expected to introduce attractive sops for BMC employees. In what could end up as an additional load on the already financially burdened civic administration, the Shiv Sena is planning to provide major benefits to temporary employees.

According to a senior party leader, all ‘badli kamgar’ (temporary staff), including Class IV employees, teachers etc, will be made permanent under the new scheme. This move is expected to affect more than 20,000 employees who are on temporary payroll of the BMC.

“Currently, there is a big difference between the basic pay of temporary and permanent staff. The basic pay difference between a permanent and temporary Class IV worker is close to Rs 15,000. We are hoping to make that even and bring the temporary employees on par with the permanent ones,” said a senior leader from Shiv Sena.

Last year, the civic administration implemented the Sixth Pay Commission for all its employees. This move benefited over 80,000 municipal workers and cost the BMC over Rs 300 crore.