It is official. Three-time sitting MLA Sada Sarvankar of the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) will contest from Mahim assembly constituency after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray refused to meet him on Monday.
There was confusion in Maharashtra's ruling Mahayuti after Raj Thackeray's son Amit Thackeray decided to make his political debut from Mahim. However, incumbent MLA Sada Sarvankar decided not to back out and requested Raj Thackeray to support his desire to contest again.
Sada Sarvankar vs Amit Thackeray: What happened on Monday?
On Monday, the last day to withdraw nominations for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls, there were rumours that Sarvankar may finally withdraw from the race after meeting Thackeray. However, after the MNS chief refused to meet him, the Shiv Sainik confirmed that he would contest the election.
According to Marathi media reports, Sarvankar, accompanied by his son Saadhan and some close aides, tried to meet Raj Thackeray at his residence. While Thackeray met Saadhan, he refused to have a conversation with his father. "Raj Thackeray said that 'I don't want to say anything. If you want to fight (the polls), fight.' So we didn't talk to them. Since they have rejected our visit, we have to contest this election now," Esakal quoted Sarvankar as saying.
Mahayuti's Mahim dilemma: The story so far
On Wednesday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said the BJP still wants to throw its weight behind MNS head Raj Thackeray's son. Fadnavis said the BJP and CM Shinde had a consensus on supporting MNS candidate Amit Thackeray, who is making his electoral debut, in the Mahim assembly constituency.
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However, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale of the RPI (A), another constituent of the Mahayuti, had said that Sarvankar is a stronger candidate than Amit Thackeray, whose only qualification is that he is the son of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray.
While refusing to comment on the BJP's show of support for the MNS candidate, he said Sarvankar was the Mahayuti official's candidate.
"Amit Thackeray has not done any work in the constituency, and his only qualification is that he is Raj Thackeray's son. He has just entered politics and has a lot to do in the future," Athawale said.
Elections to the 288-member state assembly will be held on November 20 and votes will be counted on November 23.
