THE MAHIM meeting constituency of Central Mumbai is all set for a triangular struggle between three Senas — Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena UBT and Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
Whereas Shinde Sena has fielded its sitting MLA Sada Sarvankar from the seat, the Sena UBT has fielded Mahesh Sawant. Nevertheless, the Mahim constituency, which homes the undivided Shiv Sena’s headquarters — the Shiv Sena Bhavan, which is now Sena UBT headquarters, and the celebrated Shivaji Park is within the limelight owing to the candidature of the Amit Thackeray, the son of Raj Thackeray.
Since Amit who’s going to make his electoral debut from the seat, the BJP leaders, together with Mumbai metropolis president Ashish Shelar and state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule, on Saturday expressed that they’d need ruling alliance to pledge help to Amit. Nevertheless, a call is but to be made. Saravankar had clarified on Saturday that he might be submitting his nomination papers on Monday.
Chatting with reporters in Bandra, Shelar mentioned, “If Raj Thackeray, who has retained his stance on Hindutva and helps us… has introduced his son’s candidacy, then we ought to keep up our relationship. If Amit Thackeray is contesting elections, then as Mahayuti we should help him.”
Shelar added that he would talk about it with CM Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar.
The BJP Mumbai president then mentioned he was not in opposition to ally Shiv Sena’s Mahim candidate Sada Sarvankar, however supporting Amit Thackeray “will convey a optimistic message to the individuals of Maharashtra”.
Talking concerning the efforts to withdraw Saravankar from the seat, Sena chief and minister Deepak Kesarkar mentioned on Sunday that it’s the duty of the ruling alliance to help the candidature of Amit Thackeray. “Raj Thackeray had supported the ruling alliance with out contesting a single seat within the Lok Sabha. So it’s our responsibility to help Amit Thackeray. The talks are on with our present MLA Sada Saravankar and with due respect to Saravankar, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will clear up the difficulty. It’s our responsibility to help Amit Thackeray and Raj Thackeray,” he mentioned, including that Sada Saravankar has been given the standing of Minister of State which might be continued for the following 5 years.
It stays to be seen whether or not Shinde will withdraw Sarvankar to keep away from potential division of votes.
The MNS has determined to contest the Maharashtra Meeting polls alone and has already introduced a listing of 58 candidates.
The Marathi-dominated Mahim constituency, which spreads from Prabhadevi to Shivaji Park to Mahim, is taken into account important for all of the three events, particularly due to the historic Shivaji Park floor and the Maharashtrian inhabitants that resides within the space.
It was from Shivaji Park that late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray floated the celebration in 1966 and would tackle the celebration’s annual Dussehra rally until his demise. Later, Uddhav Thackeray has been addressing Sena employees from the long-lasting floor.
Raj, nephew of Bal Thackeray, additionally launched his celebration in 2006 from Shivaji Park. He organises his celebration’s annual Gudi padwa rally there and can also be a resident of the realm.
Whereas the Mahim constituency has at all times been the bastion of the undivided Shiv Sena, a member of the Thackeray household being the candidate throughout this election has made it a tricky struggle after the Sena break up.
For 2 consecutive phrases — in 2019 and 2014, undivided Shiv Sena’s Sada Saravankar gained from the seat. In 2014, the celebration defeated Nitin Sardesai of the MNS, whereas in 2019, Sarwankar defeated Sandeep Deshpande of the MNS.
In 2009, the Shiv Sena fielded Marathi actor Aadesh Bandekar who misplaced to Sardesai. With a combined demography and mixture of higher class and higher caste Marathi voters in addition to Muslim voters, Mahim can also be house to a number of Marathi businessmen, cricketers, actors and writers.
Within the lately held Lok Sabha elections, the MNS supported the ruling alliance and the Shiv Sena UBT trailed from Mahim by 13,990 votes. Nevertheless, Sena UBT candidate Anil Desai emerged the winner and is presently an MP from Mumbai South Central.
Owing to the lead within the Mahim phase in the course of the LS polls, the Mahim Vidhan Sabha phase appeared a simple contest for Shinde Sena’s Sada Saravankar, nevertheless, with Amit Thackeray’s entry into the battle has made it difficult. All of the three events might be counting on Marathi votes and all three must wrestle to get a decisive lead.
In the meantime, there are indicators that Uddhav Sena will profit from the alliance with Congress on this election. Congress additionally has some voters in Mahim seat. Within the earlier meeting elections, the Congress candidate acquired 15,246 votes on this space.
EARLIER FIGURES
2019 Meeting polls
Sada Saravankar (Shinde Sena) – 61,337
Sandeep Deshpande (MNS) – 42,690
Praveen Naik (Congress) – 15,246
2024 Lok Sabha polls
Rahul Shewale (Shinde Sena) – 69,488
Anil Desai (Uddhav Sena) – 55,498
