Twitter
Advertisement

Former CM Narayan Rane's name hots up Bandra bypoll race

With the announcement of former CM Narayan Rane as the Congress candidate, bypoll to the Bandra (East) assembly segment is set to be an exciting battle.

Latest News
article-main
Narayan Rane
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

With the announcement of Narayan Rane as the Congress candidate, bypoll to the Bandra (East) assembly segment is set to be an exciting battle. The Shiv Sena has already announced its candidate in Trupti Sawant, the widow of Sena MLA Prakash (Bala) Sawant. All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) candidate in the 2014 elections Raja Rehbar Khan is preparing to contest again. The bypoll assumes significance since it could be a battle for survival for Rane or a battle which could pave the way for a downslide of Shiv Sena if it loses its bastion. 

Why is the bypoll significant?
The bypoll assumes significance since it could be a battle for survival for Rane or a battle which could pave the way for a downslide of Shiv Sena if it loses its bastion. It could also be an acid test for AIMIM as well as BJP whose roles would be crystal clear during this battle of nerves. The bypoll to the constituency has been necessitated following the demise of Sawant.

What about Tasgaon Kawthe-Mahankal bypoll?
After the death of RR Patil, bypoll to Tasgaon Kawthe-Mahankal in Sangli is also scheduled to be held on April 11. However, this bypoll is a forgone conclusion since no party has put up any candidate after NCP announced the candidature of Suman Patil, widow of the former home minister. The NCP had appealed to all rival parties not to field their candidates taking into consideration Patil's stature and contribution to the area and the state.

What are BJP and NCP doing?
While BJP is backing the Sena for the Bandra (East) bypoll, NCP president Sharad Pawar on Sunday said his party has decided to back the Congress candidate. "Since the Congress is supporting us in RR Patil's constituency, we will back Rane. The decision will be finalised in two days," said Pawar.

Interestingly, Rane had faced defeat in the assembly elections last year in his Kudal (Sindhudurg) constituency. Defending Rane's candidature, Congress state unit president Ashok Chavan said: "Rane is a party stalwart. We will win the bypoll. I am confident of it. It is an important election since it is the first one after I took over as the MPCC chief."

How is AIMIM placed?
Former corporator Khan will file his nomination on Tuesday. "We are contesting the elections, the decision is taken," said Khan. Though Sawant had defeated BJP's Krishna Parkar, Khan had emerged as a surprise number three with almost 20,000 votes in the constituency which has substantial Muslims and Dalits pockets.

Prestige issue for the Sena
The bypoll is a prestige issue for the Shiv Sena since Matoshree, the Thackeray residence, falls in this constituency. It is learnt that when chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had a telephonic talk on Thursday night and on Friday morning regarding the election to the post of chairman of the legislative council, Fadnavis was believed to have raised Bandra (East) bypoll issue and the fact that Sena needed BJP's support to win the seat. It was after this phone call that the Sena decided to withdraw its candidate Dr Neelam Gorhe from the fray to the post of chairman in the council.

Why is it interesting?
This bypoll will show whether BJP has really helped Shiv Sena or not? It will also show whether the anti-Rane lobby within the Congress really wants to him defeated since it was Rane who had aired his views in public after the appointment of Ashok Chavan as chief minister. And recently, Rane had voiced his opinion when Chavan was appointed as the state party chief. It will also make clear what role AIMIM will play since it can also withdraw to avoid division of minority votes in case Congress decides to go for a candidate from the that community in place of Rane.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement