Before the elections, Uddhav Thackeray has got the support of the CPI and the dabbawalas of Mumbai.
Mumbai:
Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray camp has found itself in trouble over the Andheri elections due next month. The candidate she was hoping to field – late MLA Ramesh Latke’s wife Rutuja Latke – may be unable to contest if her resignation is not accepted by the Mumbai civic body. The last date for filing nominations is October 14. If her resignation is not accepted within the next two days, she cannot contest the election.
The Thackeray faction has accused the state’s ruling alliance – Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde – and the BJP of trying to sabotage the candidate. He has also alleged that there is pressure on Mrs. Latte to contest from the other side.
Shiv Sena’s sitting MLA Ramesh Latke passed away this year, necessitating the by-poll. Rutuja Latke, his wife, is an employee of the Brihanmumbai Corporation. He has resigned from his post under the election rules.
The Brihanmumbai corporation chief denied that he was under any pressure from the government. I can take a decision on this within 30 days, Iqbal Singh Chahal told NDTV. Resignation letter has been submitted on October 3. There is no pressure from the government on me.
Smt. Latke requested the Bombay High Court to direct the civic body to accept her resignation. The court will hear the matter tomorrow.
The Shiv Sena MLA said, “Pressure is being put by the Shinde faction that Rutuja Latke should fight from his camp. We have also heard that he was to be given the minister’s post. BMC has not accepted the resignation even after more than a month. has done.” Anil Parab.
Mr Parab said Mrs Latke resigned on 2 September, but was told recently that her letter was not in the proper format. According to the report of news agency Press Trust of India, he has given a fresh resignation letter which is yet to be accepted.
The government has also denied the allegations of pressure.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “Any municipal corporation has its own rules regarding resignation. The government does not interfere. Balasaheb’s Shiv Sena and BJP are going to contest the elections together.”
Shinde faction spokesperson Kiran Pavaskar said, “Eknath Shinde has never done anything like this in his life. But there are 100 examples of Uddhav Thackeray. Not a single example can be found related to Eknath Shinde.” Which got the provisional name of “Balasahebunchi Shiv Sena” from the Election Commission in view of the elections.
Rutuja Latke today said she has not met Shinde and said she will contest the bypoll on the ‘torch’ symbol of the Thackeray faction. Asked if she was under pressure, she said, “Do I look like this?”
“Like my late husband, my loyalty is with Uddhav Thackeray,” she was quoted as saying by PTI. While she is being fielded by the Thackeray faction – tentatively named “Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray” – Mrs. Latke is also being backed by the Congress and Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party, which she calls the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Makes candidates. Ahead of the elections, Mr. Thackeray has also got the support of the CPI. section dabbawala Mumbai has also offered support.
The Shiv Sena vs Shiv Sena battle began in June after Mr Shinde vertically split the party, with 48 MLAs in a BJP-backed coup against Uddhav Thackeray, who was the chief minister at the time. The Maha Vikas Aghadi government fell and Mr. Shinde formed a new government with the BJP.