Mumbai: Forward of the high-stakes Andheri East by-poll subsequent month, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena nonetheless doesn’t have a candidate formally. And the final date of nomination is Friday.
This irritating state of affairs, sadly, will not be by alternative. Uddhav’s nominee Rutuja Latke is an worker of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Company (BMC). The civic physique is seemingly dilly dallying on accepting Rutuja’s resignation.
The BMC is at present underneath a state-appointed administrator, Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, after the time period of the outgoing basic physique lapsed in March this yr. Earlier than that, the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena had dominated the municipality for 25 years.
The by-poll on 3 November is a litmus check for the Thackeray-led occasion after the vertical cut up in it led by Shinde in June.
The Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT), because the occasion is now recognized following an interim order by the Election Fee earlier this week, has slammed the BMC’s motion as “stress ways” by Shinde’s authorities.
UBT has condemned the federal government for ravenous it of a candidate, or worse, making an attempt to lure Rutuja into their fold.
Rutuja is the spouse of Ramesh Latke, the previous Shiv Sena MLA from Andheri East. He died in Could this yr earlier than the occasion cut up.
Addressing the media Wednesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Anil Parab mentioned, “Rutuja Ramesh Latke shouldn’t be scared in any approach. I’ve heard that the Shinde group is pressuring her to contest as their candidate, however I’m assured that Ramesh Latke’s household is loyal to the Shiv Sena. They won’t fall prey to stress.”
“There are solely two days left to file the nomination for the by-poll, however her resignation is intentionally not being accepted to both bar her from the race or stress her to contest as a rival candidate. We condemn this,” he added.
Rutuja Latke, in the meantime, clarified that she’s going to keep loyal to the Shiv Sena (UBT). Sharing {a photograph} of her and her late husband with Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray on Fb, Latke mentioned, “Amhi sadaiva Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray hyancha soba ahot.” (We’re all the time with Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray.)
Naresh Mhaske, a pacesetter from the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction, now referred to as “Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena”, mentioned the occasion has nothing to do with Latke’s utility. “It’s not proper in charge us each time for all the pieces. They need to have understood the process and adopted guidelines,” he mentioned.
“All phrases and situations met, resignation must be accepted”
Parab mentioned Rutuja had first submitted her resignation final month, but it surely was not taken on report. She was later advised that her papers weren’t in accordance with format.
Rutuja put in a contemporary resignation on 3 October. As per BMC guidelines, an outgoing worker has to serve a one-month discover interval. “Since she wouldn’t have been capable of serve the one-month discover interval, she selected the choice of depositing one month’s wage with the BMC as per guidelines,” Parab mentioned.
Parab mentioned he met BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal thrice and requested him to just accept the resignation, however didn’t get a passable response. “I even requested him to provide me in writing the explanations for not accepting the resignation in order that we might take the following step, however he was not prepared to do this both. He’s clearly being pressured,” Parab added.
When contacted, Chahal advised ThePrint: “It’s a work in progress. Guidelines allow to determine in 30 days. She utilized on the night of three October, 2022. There is no such thing as a query of any authorities stress.”
The essential by-poll
The Andheri East by-poll is pivotal as it’s the first check for all events after a change of guard within the state and the riot inside the Shiv Sena.
In June, Shinde, a Shiv Sena MLA and minister, engineered a coup within the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) authorities, which then fell flat on its face. The MVA comprised the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Celebration (NCP) and Congress.
The Shinde group then allied with the BJP to kind a authorities in Maharashtra with him as chief minister and BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis as his deputy.
The Shinde faction approached the EC claiming to be the actual Shiv Sena and requested for the unique “bow and arrow” image. In an interim order within the dispute between the 2 Senas, the EC gave them each new names in addition to symbols – the “mashaal” (torch flame) for the Shiv Sena (UBT) and “swords and protect” for Shinde’s Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena.
The Congress and NCP have already pledged their assist to Shiv Sena (UBT) within the by-poll. On Wednesday, Deputy CM Fadnavis mentioned the BJP and the Shinde group would additionally contest the by-poll as an alliance and can determine on the candidate quickly.
Additionally learn: Shinde, Uddhav factions have new names. However what’s the origin story of ‘Shiv Sena’ & its image?