BVA to contest Palghar byelection

Mumbai: The Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) will contest the upcoming Palghar Lok Sabha byelection. Its leader, Hitendra Thakur, will declare the candidate on Tuesday. Wednesday is the last date of filing nominations. BVA entering the fray has signalled a multi-corner fight, also featuring the Congress and the Communist Party of India (M).

Whether Shiv Sena will contest the election or support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate is yet to be seen.  

The decision to contest LS bypoll is being seen as jolt to the BJP. BVA chief Hitendra Thakur held a meeting with his party colleagues last week.

The prevailing sentiment at the meeting was that if the BJP gives ticket to family members of its deceased MP Chintaman Vanaga and all other parties decide to support the candidate, BVA too should opt for his or her unopposed election. “But as election is likely to be contested by all, we do not have option than contesting it,” said Ajiv Patil, spokesperson of BVA.

Out of six Assembly segments in the Palghar LS constituency, BVA has three MLAs. The party had also won this LS seat in 2009, which it lost in 2014 due to the ‘Modi wave’.