Mumbai: The Shiv Sena’s (UBT) selection of candidates in Mumbai indicates that the party is banking on its loyal leaders to remain relevant in the city than inducting new comers on a large scale.
The party’s case is proven in two particular constituencies, Dahisar and Jogeshwari (East). In Dahisar, it has fielded veteran Vinod Ghosalkar against the BJP’s Manisha Choudhary. Ghosalkar lost his promising son Abhishek last year as he was killed in his friend’s office over some dispute. A broken Ghosalkar was virtually out of the action. However, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has reposed faith in his trusted party worker.
In Jogeshwari (East), the party has fielded former councilor Anant aka Bala Nar against the Shiv Sena’s Manisha Waikar. This contest has become interesting since Ravindra Waikar, a one-time close confidant of Uddhav Thackeray, switched over to Shiv Sena, became a member of Lok Sabha and now managed to get a ticket for his wife Manisha in the Assembly election.
Nar was a like a shadow to Waikar. He ran the party’s one of the most vibrant branches in Jogeshwari. Nar was instrumental in construction of a theme park in this area. He also managed the Matoshree club, headed by Waikar.
Since the Shiv Sena (UBT) has maintained that it has cut off all the options to reunite with the BJP Thackeray’s strategy in Mumbai will be crucial. Mumbai has traditionally been a strong bastion of Uddhav Thackeray but will it continue to be so, remains another big question. Among the key constituencies that are need to be watched in Mumbai region is the Worli constituency seat.
Dadar has been a traditional stronghold of the Shiv Sena right from its conception has been facing competition from the MNS. The latter has secured deep inroads in Dadar securing five seats of BMC in the last elections.
This time round Amit, Raj Thackeray’s son will be contesting from Mahim, Dadar’s adjoining constituency which was earlier won by MNS heavy weight senior leader Nitin Sardesai, who is a resident of Shivaji Park and exercises a sufficient clout over voters’ mind that ensures Amit Thackeray’s significant achievement in that constituency.
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