Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam (L) on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray for prematurely announcing the candidate for Mumbai’s North-West Lok Sabha constituency. (File Image/PTI/X)
The former chief minister announced Amol Kirtikar’s candidature from Mumbai North West constituency, much to the chagrin of Congress’ Sanjay Nirupam who said the party should take back its decision
Uddhav Thackeray’s announcement of Amol Kirtikar’s candidature from Mumbai North West constituency for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls has once again exposed the chinks in the MVA armour, with Congress seething over the move.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi is still holding meetings to decide the final seat-sharing formula for the Lok Sabha elections but Thackeray’s declaration has upset former Mumbai Congress chief and former Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam.
According to sources, Nirupam was anticipating that the Congress would get a word into the ongoing negotiations but Thackeray announced his party’s pick before the seats could be formally announced.
Kirtikar is the son of incumbent MP Gajanan Kirtikar who joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena after the split in the party. However, Thackeray wanted to reward Amol for sticking by him after the split and hence announced his name.
A month ago, Aaditya Thackeray, at one of his rallies in Mumbai’s Girgaon area, announced the candidature of Arvind Sawant from the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency. The announcement led to the exit of former MP Milind Deora from the Congress. He later joined the Shinde-led Sena and became a Rajya Sabha MP.
Nirupam told news agency ANI: “Discussion regarding seat sharing is still underway in MVA. Even though a lot of meetings have been held, no final decision has been taken regarding various seats. Until and unless a final decision is taken, a party does not have a right to announce the name of the candidate from the disputed seat… I request Shiv Sena to take back the announcement they made.”
Nirupam also questioned Thackeray’s choice of Amol who is facing an ACB inquiry in the ‘Khichadi’ scam during the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Sunday, Bhaskar Jadhav, another Thackeray MLA who hails from the Konkan region and represents Chiplun constituency, held a meeting with his supporters and expressed his displeasure about not getting any portfolio despite being a former minister.
“I don’t just contest to become a minister. If that were my intention, I could have got it in 2019 only. When Uddhav-ji was chief minister, BJP leaders were making a continuous attack on him. I was taking all those BJP leaders head-on inside and outside the state assembly. How many of those who got portfolios raised their voices to defend him?” Jadhav asked, bringing up his disappointment at not being made group leader of Shiv Sena UBT post the split in the party.
Apart from Thackeray, Sharad Pawar has announced the ticket to his daughter Supriya Sule who represents Baramati constituency in the Lok Sabha. The Congress has announced the candidature of Shahu Maharaj from the Kolhapur Lok Sabha seat.
