Andheri East bypolls: Raj Thackeray asks BJP to withdraw candidature

The elections Andheri East seat have been necessitated following the death of two-time MLA of Shiv Sena Ramesh Latke

In surprising twists in the run up to the bye-elections to Andheri East constituency in Mumbai, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP and Raj Thackeray-led MNS called for unopposed elections paving way for Rutuja Latke to become the MLA from the seat once represented by her late husband.

In the elections slated on 3 November, Rutuja Latke of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray section), who is the joint candidate of the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance is pitted against Murji Patel of BJP, who has the backing of Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

The elections to this seat of Mumbai have been necessitated following the death of two-time MLA of Shiv Sena, Ramesh Latke, who passed away following a heart attack on May 11 while he was on a trip to Dubai.

However, the following month in June, Shiv Sena split and the political situation in Maharashtra changed.

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In a letter, Raj urged Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to withdraw the BJP candidate from the seat.

In a letter to Fadnavis, Raj Thackeray pointed out how late Latke started his journey up from being a ‘shaka pramukh’. “I have witnessed his journey and growth in the political arena. After his death, to see his wife become an MLA in his constituency, will be solace to the departed soul,” Raj said and urged him not to enter the race for the bypolls.

Raj further wrote: “Whenever there has been such a situation when a sitting MLA has passed away, our party has refrained from fighting the bye-poll. This is our way of paying our reverence to the departed soul.”

Hours later, Pawar said that elections should be unopposed. ’I am making an appeal for an unopposed election of Rutuja Latke,’’ he said, making a brief statement.

"The term for the new member (MLA) will be just one-and-half years. The bypoll is being held because of the unfortunate death of Ramesh Latke. His wife is contesting the seat. Latke was a corporator and an MLA. His contribution must be taken into consideration," said Pawar.

However, Fadnavis said that he alone cannot take a decision. “I will have to consult my party colleagues, my superiors…after all the party has decided and fielded a candidate and nominations have been filed,” he said. He also added that he would also have to consult Shinde, who is an ally of the party.

“In the past, we have taken such decisions,” he said and gave the example of how the BJP did not contest the by-elections after the death of late Deputy Chief Minister and senior NCP leader RR Patil and in other seats as well.