Navi Mumbai, 18th October 2024: During a party meeting on Tuesday night, the Navi Mumbai Shiv Sena asserted its claim on at least one of the two assembly seats in the city. The party decided that if both the Belapur and Airoli seats are given to MLA Ganesh Naik and his son Sandeep Naik, the BJP’s Navi Mumbai chief, they will not participate in the campaign. City Shiv Sena leader Vijay Chougule plans to contest the Airoli seat as an independent candidate.
Shiv Sena members have long accused the Naiks of working against their party’s interests and intend to bring their concerns to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Earlier, Shiv Sena deputy leader and former IAS officer Vijay Nahata, who was frustrated by the party leadership’s indecision regarding his candidacy for Belapur, left Shiv Sena to join the NCP (SP). Despite his departure, Shiv Sena supporters have expressed their backing for Nahata and hope he may return if the issue is resolved by CM Shinde. According to city coordinator Kishore Patkar, both Nahata and Chougule are key figures within the Navi Mumbai unit, and CM Shinde holds the power to settle the matter.
Chougule voiced his dissatisfaction, stating that while he had helped Ganesh Naik secure a substantial victory in the last assembly election for the Airoli seat, Naik failed to reciprocate the support. Chougule emphasized that Shiv Sena needs at least one seat and made it clear that the party will not support the Naiks if they are granted tickets as Mahayuti candidates. He also confirmed that while he will run as an independent, he has no intention of joining another party.
Meanwhile, Sandeep Naik expressed confidence that the party leadership would select the best candidates for Airoli and Belapur based on their merits. He highlighted his decade-long service in the Airoli constituency and his extensive efforts in Belapur. However, the internal rift has also impacted the BJP in Navi Mumbai, with Ganesh Naik expected to contest from Airoli and Sandeep Naik eyeing the Belapur seat, currently held by BJP’s Manda Mhatre. Mhatre, who has served two consecutive terms, remains hopeful that the party will choose deserving candidates for the upcoming election.