The Shiv Sena under the leadership of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde made headlines on Wednesday by announcing their three candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Shinde has given the nod to his son and the incumbent MP, Shrikant Shinde, for the Kalyan seat. Announcements for Thane and Nashik candidates have also been unveiled, signaling a strategic move in Maharashtra's political landscape.
In Thane, the former mayor Naresh Mhaske has been entrusted to carry the party’s torch against the India Coalition's candidate and current MP Rajan Vichare from the UBT faction of Shiv Sena. Additionally, in Nashik, Hemant Godse is set to enter the electoral arena as Shiv Sena's choice.
Thane: The Stronghold of Eknath Shinde
Thane is considered a fortress for Chief Minister Eknath Shinde who himself has been elected from the Kopri-Pachpakhadi assembly seat. The party has yet to announce its candidate for the Palghar Lok Sabha seat.
Let us inform you that there are six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai including Mumbai North, Mumbai North-East, Mumbai North-West, Mumbai North-Central, Mumbai South, and Mumbai South Central. Moreover, Thane, Kalyan, Bhiwandi, and Palghar form part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
A Climactic Political Duel Unfolds in Mumbai
The Shiv Sena under Eknath Shinde, allying with BJP and NCP (Ajit Pawar), is poised for a compelling election battle. From South Mumbai, the Uddhav Thackeray faction has fielded Arvind Sawant, who will face Yamini Jadhav from the Shinde group. In South Central, UBT has deployed Anil Desai while Shiv Sena has backed Rahul Shewale.
In the North East seat, Sanjay D Patil represents UBT, with BJP announcing Mihir Kotecha as their candidate. The Congress has given its ticket to Varsha Gaikwad in North Central, where she will be up against Ujjwal Nikam from BJP. The contest between UBT's Amol Kirtikar and Shiv Sena's Ravindra Waikar will be closely watched in the North West. As per the seat-sharing agreement of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, Congress will contest two Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai. The elections are scheduled for May 20th in Mumbai.
