Sena-BJP battle in Palghar to claim late MP’s legacy

The Lok Sabha bypoll in Palghar is set to revolve around the legacy of the late Chintaman Wanga, former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP, with Wanga’s family — now with the Shiv Sena — and the BJP attacking each other.

Campaigning for BJP candidate and former Congress leader Rajendra Gavit, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said his party had initially decided to give a ticket to Wanga’s family member, but the Sena went ahead and announced the former MP’s son Shrinivas Wanga as its candidate.

“I had discussed this with [Sena chief] Uddhav Thackeray and wanted the byelection to be unopposed. He asked me to speak to [Industries Minister and Sena leader] Subhash Desai. However, all of a sudden, the Sena announced Shrinivas Wanga’s candidature,” said Mr. Fadnavis. The BJP, left with no choice, decided to field former Congress leader Rajendra Gavit, he said.

On Sunday evening, Wanga’s wife, Jayashri, filed a complaint with the Election Commission against the BJP for misusing her husband’s images without the family’s permission.

“The photos of my late husband are being used on the election material of BJP candidate Rajendra Gavit. The BJP has not taken any written permission either from me or from any of our family members. This is in breach of the model code of conduct, and action should be taken against the BJP,” Ms. Wanga told reporters.

Mr. Fadnavis said the Sena will ignore the Wanga family once the election is over. “But not us. We will give entry to Shrinivas Wanga in the BJP as the family of Chintaman Wanga is our own,” said Mr. Fadnavis.