Mumbai: Shiv Sena MLA Sunil Raut, who had earlier threatened to contest as an independent from the Mumbai North East Lok Sabha constituency if sitting MP Kirit Somaiya was renominated, Friday came out in support of BJP candidate Manoj Kotak and sought votes for him. This comes amid reports of discontent among the mid-level functionaries of the Sena and the BJP, despite the latter fielding Kotak in place of Somaiya.
“I appeal to party workers to ensure the victory of BJP candidate Manoj Kotak by lakhs of votes and not fall prey to any rumours (of my opposition to him). Everyone should ensure that the Sena-BJP alliance becomes stronger,” Raut said. He added that he will support all those who work for Kotak’s win in the election. Raut, who had earlier announced to contest as an independent if Somaiya was given ticket again, was on Saturday seen sharing stage with NCP candidate and former MP Sanjay Dina Patil, who had lost to Somaiya in the 2014 elections.
Kotak, who is the group leader of the BJP in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), is taking on Sanjay Dina Patil. Somaiya was not given renomination by the BJP, which is contesting three out of total six seats spanning the island city and suburbs in Mumbai. The Sena is contesting on rest three constituencies as per the seat-sharing deal.
Sena leaders were staunchly against Somaiya’s renomination as the MP had earlier levelled his caustic remarks directed at the party brass. In the run-up to the 2017 BMC elections, which the BJP and the Sena had contested separately, Somaiya had talked about “mafia of Bandra”. The remarks were perceived to be directed at Sena president Uddhav Thackeray whose resident “Matoshree” is located in suburban Bandra. The six constituencies in Mumbai will go to polls on April 29, in the last phase of general elections in Maharashtra.