Rutuja Latke files poll papers in MVA show of strength

MUMBAI: Rutuja Latke, widow of Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke, filed her nomination as the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) candidate for the Andheri (East) assembly bypoll on Thursday, hours after the BMC accepted her resignation as a clerk as ordered by the Bombay high court.
Led by former Sena ministers Aaditya Thackeray and Anil Parab, the nomination filing was turned into a Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) show of strength with senior Congress and NCP leaders like Mumbai Congress chief Bhai Jagtap, Suresh Shetty and former NCP minister Dilip Walse-Patil joining it.
“Mashaal symbol is not new for us, Chhagan Bhujbal fought and won on this symbol. We will see a positive result. I’m remembering Ramesh Latke’s rally and I am getting support from all his supporters and friends,” said Rutuja.
Sena functionary Sandeep Naik also filed his nomination from the Uddhav faction as a back-up candidate in case thereis any hiccup with Rutuja’s candidature. “This is the norm… If the application of the first candidate is rejected for some reason, the second name of Shiv Sena is considered the official candidate. Therefore, Shiv Sena has filed the candidature of Sandeep Naik. When Latke’s application is verified tomorrow, Naik’s application will be withdrawn outright,” Parab said.
Following the HC order on Thursday, the BMC accepted Rutuja’s resignation. October 13 as her last working day.
After the nomination was filed, Aaditya described the battleas ‘humanity vs khokasur’ (a term used to describe the Shinde faction). “Everyone is angry and sad about the way this election is going. How appropriate is it to harass a woman? The BMC and the khoke sarkar were trying to ensure Latke would not contest. But the court has given them a rap,” he said.
Referring to the fact that sitting MLA Ramesh Latke’s death necessitated the bypoll, he added: “It is not appropriate to put up opposition candidates in such elections. But the games played by the khoke government have exposed their dark minds. ”