Sena refuses to withdraw candidate in LS bypoll

Mumbai: With the Shiv Sena refusing to withdraw its candidate in the Palghar Lok Sabha byelection, the BJP plans to get Sena candidates defeated in the upcoming Legislative Council polls. Sources said that chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has taken stock of the situation in all three Legislative Council constituencies where the Sena has fielded its candidates.

In Nashik, the BJP may support independent candidate, Parvez Kokani, against Sena’s Narendra Darade. According to sources, the CM on Tuesday called a meeting of local BJP leaders in Nashik. Guardian minister Girish Mahajan was also present. Talk about supporting Mr Kokani took place during the meeting, sources confirmed.

A BJP leader close to the development said, “We will get to know the decision a day or two prior to voting. We have been asked by the state leadership to be ready to vote against the Sena. The message will be conveyed to our voters.”

In Nashik, the Sena is fielding Mr Darade while NCP has given a ticket to Sena defector, Shivaji Sahane. If the BJP does not transfer its vote to Mr Darade, his seat will be in danger.

Meanwhile, in Palghar, Sena has given a ticket to the son of late BJP MP Chintaman Vanaga. The seat was with the BJP as per the seat sharing pact between the two parties. However, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s decision to contest the seat has irked the BJP leadership. So much so that the CM publicly said, “Come what may, the BJP will win the Palghar election.”