New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday withdrew its candidate from the Andheri East assembly by-poll against Uddhav Thackeray’s candidate Rutuju Latke.
BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced in Nagpur that the party would not contest the Mumbai seat, and withdrew its candidate Murji Patel.
On Sunday, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray requested Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis not to field a candidate for Andheri East Assembly in reverence to late MLA Ramesh Latke, whose death necessitated the election.
The Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena has nominated his wife Rutuja for the post.
While Fadnavis admitted the letter was sent to him in good faith, he said he would have to discuss with the party leadership before taking a decision.
In a letter addressed to the BJP leader, which he posted on social media, Raj Thackeray said the MNS would not contest the 3 November by-election to show respect to the deceased legislator.
“The Andheri East bypoll was necessitated after the death of sitting MLA Ramesh Latke and his wife Rutuja has filed her nomination. The MNS will not contest the election as our way of paying reverence to the departed soul,” the MNS chief said.
Ramesh Latke, the sitting MLA from Andheri East, died of a cardiac arrest in May this year.
Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar too sought an unopposed election for Rutuja Latke.
Pawar said the term for the new member (MLA) would be only one-and-a-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,” he said.
“Huge efforts go into fighting by-polls, which is not required when the term is just for around one year,” Pawar said, adding that five to six months are spent with the election code of conduct in place.
After withdrawing the nomination, BJP’s Bawankule added: “We were sure of our victory but BJP has been doing this in the state for a long time. This is an example for people that although we were winning, we’ve taken back our nomination. This is a good decision by Devendra Fadnavis.”
The by-poll — if there would have been a contest – was being considered a litmus test for Uddhav Thackeray, who lost his chief minister’s chair due to a coup engineered by party colleague and now chief minister Eknath Shinde. The BJP is a partner in the present government.
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