Maharashtra BJP has decided to give ticket to member of Wanagha family: Devendra Fadnavis tells Shiv Sena

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said he had told Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray that the BJP was planning to give ticket to a member of Chintaman Wanagha's family for the by-election.

Despite this, the Sena went ahead and fielded Shriniwas Wanagha for the May 28 by-election to the Palghar Lok Sabha constituency, Fadnavis said, speaking at a campaign rally at Kasa today.

In a jolt to its ally BJP, the Sena fielded Shriniwas Wanagha for the ensuing by-election after his father and BJP MP from neighbouring Palghar, Chintaman Wanagha, died.

The BJP was always ready to give ticket to a member of the Wanagha family, Fadnavis said.

"I had also discussed this with Uddhav and wanted the by-election to be unopposed. He asked me to speak to (state minister and Sena leader) Subhash Desai," he said.

However, suddenly the Sena announced Shriniwas Wanagha's candidature, the chief minister said.

The BJP has fielded Rajendra Gavit in the by-election.

Gavit was the right successor to Chintaman Wanagha, Fadnavis said.

"I fact we had planned to give him a ticket in 2019 elections, but no one ever imagined that this by-election would happen," he said.