Shiv Sena eyes Khadakwasla by-poll

The Shiv Sena wants to contest the by-election to the Khadakwasla constituency instead of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in contrast to what was agreed upon in the seat-sharing arrangement between the two saffron alliance partners.

The process for the by-election has begun and voting would be held on October 13. The election is being held due to the demise of MLA Ramesh Wanjale in June.

Shiv Sena spokesperson, Neelam Gorhe, told reporters on Friday that party members want the Shiv Sena to contest the by-election, but the party attaches more importance to maintaining cordial relations with the BJP, considering the alliance between the two.

She said the Sena expects the BJP to field a capable candidate for the by-election. If the BJP has some problem in fielding their candidate, then the Shiv Sena is ready to contest the by-election.

However, the decision would be taken after a discussion between the two parties.

Gorhe said she has discussed the matter with western Maharashtra in-charge of BJP, Chandrakant Patil. She said a meeting of party members from the Khadakwasla constituency will be held on Sunday at Dhayri to review their opinion.

Wanjale was a Congress supporter, but he contested and won the election as a Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) candidate due to political compulsions.

Now his widow, Harshada, a member of the zilla parishad, is likely to contest the by-election.

It has become clear that she would not contest as an MNS candidate and would accept the candidature of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Harshada has an edge over her competitors as she has the sympathy of voters.

The Congress wants the seat to be allocated to that party, perhaps to field Harshada as she was elected to the zilla parishad on its ticket.

However, recently the NCP rejected an appeal by the Congress to allocate the Khadakwasla seat to the latter.