As BJP backs his rival, Shiv Sena MLA says won't withdraw from Mahim poll fray

Shiv Sena MLA Sadanand Sarvankar, seeking re-election from Mumbai's Mahim assembly seat, on Thursday made it clear he will not withdraw from the fray amid a show of support by his party ally BJP to his rival Amit Thackeray, son of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray. "There is no question of my withdrawing from the race," Sarvankar told PTI.

Sources in the Shiv Sena, a BJP ally and key member of Maharashtra's ruling Mahayuti bloc, said the party was in favour of backing MNS candidate Amit Thackeray, making his electoral debut, but not at the cost of Sarvankar. The MNS is not a part of Mahayuti, but the Raj Thackeray-led outfit had supported the ruling alliance in Maharashtra in this year's Lok Sabha elections.

The sources pointed out that of the 39 MLAs who backed chief minister Eknath Shinde when he led a revolt against the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray, then head of the united Shiv Sena, all have been either re-nominated or their kin have been given tickets for the 20 November assembly polls.

Sarvankar, the sitting MLA from Mahim, was one of the 39 legislators who backed Shinde during the June 2022 rebellion. Three Shiv Sena MPs who sided with Shinde but were denied tickets — Bhavana Gawali, Krupal Tumane and Hemant Patil — have been rehabilitated and made MLCs.

The sources pointed out that the Shiv Sena has not fielded its candidate in Mumbai's Shivadi seat, paving the way for a direct contest between Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Ajay Chaudhari and MNS nominee Bala Nandgaonkar, in a way helping the latter.

The BJP has declared support to Amit Thackeray, who is pitted against Sarvankar and opposition Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Mahesh Sawant, with 4 November being the last date for withdrawal of candidatures.

Asked about Sarvankar, state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said he couldn't say whether the MLA will withdraw from the race as this was an internal issue of the Shiv Sena.

On Wednesday, in a post on X, Sarvankar said he has been a Shiv Sena worker for 40 years and has become an MLA three times through sheer dint of hard work in his constituency. Had the Shiv Sena chief the late Bal Thackeray been alive today, he would not have asked him to leave the prestigious seat for his relatives, Sarvankar asserted.

The Shiv Sena MLA also urged Raj Thackeray not to do "injustice" to a worker like him and let him contest from the seat.

Amid the tussle, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has said Raj Thackeray is praising the ruling BJP as he is worried about his son Amit's electoral fortunes.

Polling for the 288-member state assembly will be held on 20 November and results announced three days later. Mumbai accounts for 36 assembly segments.