Will seriously think about Raj Thackeray's request to not contest Andheri East assembly bypoll, says Devendra Fadnavis

Chaitanya Marpakwar / TNN / Updated: Oct 16, 2022, 20:00 IST

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Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday evening said he would seriously think about Raj Thackeray’s request to drop the BJP candidate for the Andheri East assembly bypoll, adding any decision could only be taken after discussion.

Will seriously think about Raj Thackeray's request to not contest Andheri East assembly bypoll, says Devendra Fadnavis

Devendra Fadnavis (L), Raj Thackeray. (Photos: IANS/PTI)

MUMBAI: Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday evening said he would seriously think about Raj Thackeray’s request to drop the BJP candidate for the Andheri East assembly bypoll, adding any decision could only be taken after discussion.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray had written a letter to Fadnavis urging him not to field a candidate against Rutuja Latke, the candidate of Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and the wife of late MLA Ramesh Latke, whose death necessitated the election.

Fadnavis said he would have to discuss the issue with his own party leaders, colleagues and chief minister Ekanth Shinde.

"Our Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar met MNS chief Raj Thackeray today and requested him to support the BJP candidate in Andheri (East). That time, he expressed his views and sent me a letter too. He has requested that we should withdraw our candidate. I can only say that I can’t take this decision on my own. Even if we have to think about his letter, I will have to talk to party leaders and seniors. Since we have already declared our candidate and he has filed his nomination too," Fadnavis said.

"In the past, whenever we have got proper requests we have agreed and not fought bypolls. We had taken this view during the bypolls necessitated by RR Patil’s death. Even in the MLC polls, we had taken a similar stand. But at this stage, in the Andheri (East) seat, if any such decision has to be taken, I can’t take it. I will have to talk to my party. We also have Balasaheb’s Shiv Sena with us, so I will have to talk to the CM and discuss it with him. Only after a discussion with all these people can I say something about his (Raj’s) letter. Yes, he has sent the letter and made the request with good intentions. We will think about it seriously but any decision can only be taken after discussion," he added.
The last date for withdrawing nominations for the Andheri (East) bypoll is Monday.

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