MNS candidate Amit Thackeray, who is the son of party chief Raj Thackeray, gestures during a rally file his nomination papers from Mahim.
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) founder-President Raj Thackeray’s son Amit Thackeray would not have an easy sailing in Mahim.
The 32-year-old would have to face three-time MLA Sada Sarvankar, who is from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Mahesh Sawant, who has been fielded by Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT).
The BJP leadership - including Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule and his Mumbai counterpart Ashish Shelar wanted Shinde to ask Sarvankar to ensure a safe seat for Amit in reciprocation of Raj’s help to the Maha Yuti (NDA) during the Lok Sabha polls.
Sarvankar, however, refused to back out.
Shinde is learnt to have promised Sarvankar a berth in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, ticket to son Samadhan Sarvankar during the elections to BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation and extension of tenure as chairperson of Siddhivinayak Temple Trust.
Around noon, Sarvankar had a meeting with Shinde after which he proceeded to the Shivaji Park residence of Raj for an audience. However, Raj refused to meet Sarvankar and his son Samadhan and conveyed through aides that he was not interested to have discussions and the Shiv Sena leader was free to contest against his son.
“I met Shinde Saheb…after that I wanted to meet Raj Saheb and explain to him the circumstances about my contesting the seat...besides, he closed the door for any talks, if at all I was to take any other decision, I needed to talk to him...but Raj Saheb did not meet me…the matter ended there…I am contesting the polls,” said Sarvankar, after Raj snubbed him.
It may be recalled, Shinde had earlier said that Raj has declared Amit’s name unilaterally without holding any discussions with Maha Yuti allies despite the fact that the Shiv Sena has a sitting MLA.
Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls will take place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP will be going up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress try to make their mark. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faces a new challenge after Hemant Soren's recent arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP. The Haryana election resulted in a shock loss for Congress, which was looking to galvanize on the Lok Sabha poll performance, while J&K also saw the grand old party eventually stepping away from the cabinet, with Omar Abdullah's JKNC forming government. It remains to be seen if the upcoming polls help BJP cement its position further or provide a fillip to I.N.D.I.A. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.
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