MUMBAI, February 4: With an eye on the forthcoming elections, state deputy chief minister Gopinath Munde and a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, visited the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) treasurer Rajinder Banthia on Wednesday. Sources said that about 50 BSE members, including the president of the exchange, MG Damani, were present at the meeting.While no official comment was available on the details of what transpired, sources said the meeting was aimed at providing the market representatives a feedback on the shape of things to come if the BJP came to power. Some brokers suggested that Munde's mission might also have been intended to gauge the extent of financial support that could be forthcoming from the broking community for the BJP-Shiv Sena combine in the Lok Sabha elections.
"The focus was on getting to know the extent to which brokers would be able to provide financial support. But in such a dull market is there much that a broker can afford?", said a broker who had attended themeeting.
Market sources said the powerful brokers of the exchange are by and large favourably disposed towards the BJP and could hence play a crucial role in the coming elections. The BSE has about 600-member brokers.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
