Shinde to field candidate in Mahim as BJP backs Raj Thackeray's son
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Mumbai: The BJP’s Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra is caught in a fix over choosing a candidate for Mahim constituency with the poll is just 20 days away, India Today reported.
The saffron party’s alliance partner Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has chosen to field its sitting MLA Sada Sarvankar.
But the BJP has decided to throw its weight behind Amit Thackeray, son of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray.
The deadlock is compounded with Shiv Sena (UBT) announcing Mahesh Sawant as its candidate, causing a three-way showdown.
As the situation has turned bleak, the BJP claimed that it has arrived at an agreement with Shinde on the matter.
However, Shinde faction says that if their candidate is not in the fray, their votes will go to rival Shiv Sena (UBT), hence Sarvankar is contesting the election.
Meanwhile, Sarvankar in a post on platform X requested Raj Thackeray to withdraw his son's candidature from the Mahim and sought his support.
Sarvankar recounted his 40 years of work with Shiv Sena alongside claiming that if Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray was alive, he would not have asked him to give up the seat.
Sarvnakar said that Bal Thackeray was a leader who ‘cherished the spirit of the worker’ hence ‘he nominated a common worker like me’, rather than choosing any of his fifty relatives living in Dadar-Mahim.
Adding further he requested Raj Thackeray ‘not to do injustice to workers like me. Give me your support’.
Sarvnakar made the request after BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis confirmed the party’s choice of backing Raj Thackeray’s son in Mahim.
‘We are supporting Amit Thackeray. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was of the same view. But if the Sena candidate is not there, then their votes will go to Shiv Sena (UBT), hence a candidate is given,’ Fadnvais was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, Sarvankar reportedly met with Eknath Shinde and later confirmed that he would contest in Mahim.
Raj Thackeray’s party MNS is not part of the BJP led Mahayuti alliance.
Raj Thackeray, however, announced that the Mahayuti alliance, having the support his party, will form the next government with the Chief Minister's post going to the BJP.