I had only two choices, either go to jail or approach another party to explain my side: Sena leader Ravindra Waikar

MUMBAI: Ravindra Waikar, Shinde Sena's Lok Sabha candidate from North West constituency said that he had the option of either going to jail or approaching another party to explain his stand as he came under the Enforcement Directorate and EOW lens earlier this year. A close associate of Uddhav Thackeray and three-time MLA from Jogeswhari East, Waikar joined Eknath Shinde before being announced as the party candidate for North West.

“It was either meet the fate of others like Chavan (Suraj Chavan, Sena UBT functionary arrested in khichadi scam) and land up in jail or put forward my side to another political party,” Waikar said in a press conference on Friday. He said that during his summons by the ED and EOW, he sought Thackeray's help thrice, but didn’t get the necessary support.

“I suggested to him that perhaps we could reach out to higher authorities, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to convey that the unfolding events were unjust. However, Uddhav expressed his inability to intervene. He said whatever it is, I have to face it on my own,” Waikar added. “But I was already facing the agencies. The fact is that my party head should have stood by me but that didn’t happen,” the 65-year-old Sena leader said.

In January, Waikar faced interrogation by the ED in connection with an alleged Rs 500crore money laundering case related to the construction of a high-end hotel in Jogeshwari, purportedly breaching his agreement with the BMC. In a recent interview to Maharashtra Times, Waikar said “After being falsely implicated, I was left with only two options, either to go to jail or switch parties… It was with a heavy heart that I switched sides… when my wife’s name was also included (in this case), I had no choice left…”

After finding no support from Thackeray, Waikar approached CM Shinde, who he claims attentively listened to his concerns and questioned the agencies' actions. “He called concerned officers and asked why that was happening,” Waikar said. After Shinde supported him, Waikar said all his “tension and depression” caused by the questioning and allegations went away.

Waikar admitted that his rapport with Shinde wasn't always smooth sailing. However, after a series of meetings and fruitful discussions about their agendas, they managed to iron out their differences. "We both had our own priorities to address, many of which were significant," Waikar said. Brushing aside any notion of "true" and "false" Sena, Waikar said he had previously contested elections under the symbol of the bow and arrow and continues to do so with his current affiliation.

“I am fighting the election without any stress and believe the mood on the street is in favour of Modi getting a third term,” he said.