Palghar set for a five-corner contest; CM says did not expect Sena to act like this

Mumbai: The stage is set for a five-corner contest in Palghar with allies Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena naming separate candidates for the May 28 Lok Sabha byelections.

The Shiv Sena announced on Tuesday that the late BJP MP Chintaman Wanga’s son Shrinivas Wanga, would be their candidate for the bypoll. Upset over Sena’s decision Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said later in the day that his party had not expected this from an ally. “Come what may, BJP will win the byelection,” he added.

The bypoll has been necessitated following the death of BJP’s sitting MP Chintaman Wanga this year.

BJP’s dilemma

Unable to find a suitable candidate, the BJP named former Congress MLA and minister Rajendra Gavit as their candidate. While Congress has declared former MP Damodar Shingda as its candidate, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has named youth leader Kiran Gahla. The Hitendra Takur-led Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) is likely to declare their candidate on May 10.

“What has happened is extremely unfortunate. Shiv Sena should not have acted in the manner it did. Sena was aware that we were going to field a family member of late Chintaman Wanga. The seat is with the BJP and it should remain with us,” said Mr. Fadnavis. He said people like Wanga ensured the growth of the party in this tribal belt, and a BJP victory would be a true tribute to him.

Asked why the party could not find a single candidate from among their own cadre, Mr. Fadnavis said that BJP prefers taking in all those work for the betterment of the society. “Rajendra Gavit was in our touch since 2014 and he has played a major role in the formation of Plaghar district. He will work for the development of the district,” he said.

‘A traitor’

Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan, meanwhile, said, “The people of Palghar will teach the traitor a lesson. BJP can gloat over Rajendra Gavit’s inclusion in the party, but we are happy that the traitor is with them. The CM who himself has initiated the process of giving turncoats a ticket for elections, should not blame others for snatching their people.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Shrinivas Wanga filed his nomination papers today. Last week, the family had met Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray alleging neglect by the BJP. Mr. Fadnavis refuted the allegation saying he did reply and asked them to come for a meeting. “We are aware of who influenced the family, but will reveal the names only after the election,” he said.