Karnataka polls: Uddhav Sena to campaign for Marathi candidates; wants Shinde, Fadnavis to do it too

“I will be campaigning for MES candidates in Belgaum district. I will be going to Belgaum (Belagavi) on May 3 and 4,” Sena chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut told The Indian Express.  “We have decided that the Sena will campaign for MES candidates. The MES, unlike in the past, is looking like a united front. There are no disagreements among the Samiti members. We are confident that the MES will get an MLA elected this time,” he said.

The Uddhav Sena MP’s response came a day after the Samiti office-bearers met him at his office in Mumbai. “We met Sena MP Sanjay Raut and urged him to campaign for Samiti candidates. We have fielded four candidates and have invited leaders from all political parties from Maharashtra to support the Marathi-speaking candidates,” Manohar Kinekar, vice-president of the Samiti, told this paper.

Appealing to the Chief Minister to join the Sena in campaigning for MES candidates, Raut said,”The Chief Minister had in the past said he had participated in the agitation for inclusion of Belgaum in Maharashtra. He said he had also gone to jail. If it is so, then he should show his affection once more for the Marathi speaking people of Belgaum. He should join us in campaigning for MES candidates. I appeal to both the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister to campaign for the Marathi-speaking candidates contesting in Karnataka elections. If both of them do not campaign, it means they have nothing to do with the Marathi-speaking people of Belgaum.”

When asked whether MES office-bearers had met the Chief Minister on Monday, Naresh Mhaske, spokesperson of Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, said,”I have no clue about it.” A BJP spokesperson said the central leadership of the party will take a decision in this regard.

Prakash Margale, treasurer of the Samiti, said, “The Shiv Sena has always supported our candidates. This time too, the Sena has extended support to our candidates. Raut’s presence will electrify the election terrain of Belgaum.”

Also Read

The real reason why tourists from Pune are flocking to Vietnam

Pune accident: Holiday gone wrong for family; mother dies, young daughter...

Disqualify MPs and MLAs who have 3 kids, says Ajit Pawar

As Ajit Pawar eyes CM post, Sanjay Raut says message is clear: ‘Eknath Sh...

Margale said the political parties from Maharashtra have always supported the Marathi-speaking people from Belgaum but have not fully supported the MES candidates. “National parties field their own candidates and therefore their leaders do not campaign for our candidates. These parties otherwise show full support for our cause. If they support us on election terrain and help get our candidates elected, then we will have our representatives who will effectively articulate our views in the Karnataka Assembly,” he said.