Sena should pull out Mahim pick in favour of MNS chief's son: BJP

MUMBAI/THANE: With MNS unlikely to field a candidate against CM Eknath Shinde in the Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency in Thane, there is speculation that Shiv Sena MLA Sada Sarvankar is under pressure to pull out of the fray from the Mahim constituency in Mumbai, where MNS chief Raj Thackeray 's son Amit is contesting. Speculation is also rife that if MNS doesn't field a candidate from Kopri-Pachpakhadi, the Sena may not field a candidate in Sewri either, where MNS has declared Bala Nandgaonkar as its candidate. So far, Sena hasn't named anyone from Sewri.

City BJP chief Ashish Shelar said Amit, Raj Thackeray's son, was a part of their family and Mahayuti should support him and get him elected. "I will personally request CM Eknath Shinde, DCMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, they will take a decision. There is no dispute in Mahayuti and we aren't opposed to Sada Sarvankar's candidature, but why can't we as Mahayuti come together? If Amit Thackeray is contesting the polls for the first time, we should all support him as Mahayuti and get him elected. Mahayuti must support Amit's candidature," Shelar said.

Sarvankar's son, former corporator Samadhan Sarvankar, said there was definitely pressure from all sides as Raj Thackeray is a big neta and a member of the Thackeray family. Hours after Sena minister Deepak Kesarkar met Sada Sarvankar on Saturday, Sarvankar said he woud surely fight from the constituency.