19 March,2009 07:34 PM IST | | Sanjeev Devasia
Shiv Sena on Thursday named 15 of 22 candidates that the party would field in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. A surprise name in the list was that of Suresh Gambhir, who will contest from the Mumbai South Central seat.
Representing Mahim as MLA, Gambhir's name came as a surprise. Although the Sena had considered fielding former MLA Visakha Raut and Mayor Shubha Raul from the constituency. Gambhir's name never even did the rounds in the media or the party circle.
Gambhir will be trying his luck against either Eknath Gaikwad or Gurudas Kamat of the Congress.
The names of Mohan Rawale and Chandrakant Khaire seemed to have been a forgone conclusion. Besides, names such as former Union ministers Suresh Prabhu and Anant Gite also figured in the list declared by party Executive President Uddhav Thackeray.
Prabhu would contest for the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg seat in Konkan, while Gite would be party nominee from Raigad.
Prabhu may have to put up a fight against Nilesh Rane, son of Industry minister Narayan Rane. The Sena has entered into a seat-sharing pact with the BJP.
