Shiv Sena declares MLA Ravindra Waikar as its candidate from Mumbai North West LS seat

MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde declared Sena MLA Ravindra Waikar as its candidate for the Mumbai North West Lok Sabha constituency. Waikar joined the Shinde led Sena in March leaving the Sena (UBT). After looking at options like actor Govinda and Marathi actors including Sharad Ponkshe, former Sena Minister Dr Deepak Sawant, Waikar’s name was declared finalised for the seat, it is learnt. Political observers a Shinde Sena explored at least 5-6 options for the seat but wasn’t able to finalise a candidate. Party sources had said that even actor Sachin Pilgaonkar’s name was in the reckoning but the actor denied any such move as rumours. Shinde Sena sources said that the party was very keen on fielding a Marathi candidate and not a North Indian face from the seat.

However political observers pointed out that BJP functionaries were not happy with Waikar’s name. “The political atmosphere of North West Mumbai has already been disturbed by the statements given by Gajanan Kirtikar against the BJP. His son Amol is being probed in the khichdi scam. With Waikar given the ticket, it will be very hard for the BJP cadre to campaign for him given the corruption allegations against him by the BJP itself and ED enquiries,” a political observer said.

“The BJP believes that Gajanan Kirtikar won in 2014 and in 2019 because of the BJP’s support and ground work. Now Gajanan Kirtikar’s anti BJP statements have already created a lot of fiction. Since the Shinde Sena nominated Waikar, the BJP will find it hard to seek votes. The whole anti-corruption narrative of BJP will be dented and this will have ramifications for the state assembly and BMC polls and be a big setback for the BJP especially in the middle and upper classes,” the observer said.

The Sena (UBT) has announced Amol Kirtikar’s name as its candidate. The Mumbai North West includes Jogeshwari East, Dindoshi, Goregaon, Versova, Andheri West, Andheri East assembly constituencies. Two MLAs are from the Sena (UBT) and three from the BJP. With Waikar, the Shinde Sena now has one MLA from this Lok Sabha constituency.

The last date for filing nominations for the six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai is May 3 and polling will be held on May 20. Some candidates from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and the Maha Yuti have already filed their nominations.