Sena dumped me because I didn't pay for ticket: Gajanan Babar

Overlooked by Shiv Sena party chief Uddhav Thackeray, Babar was not selected to contest the Lok Sabha elections in Maval constituency and chose to exit from the party's membership yesterday.

Former Congressman Shriranga Barne has been chosen as the candidate in place of him.


Speaking to mid-day, Babar confirmed that even if Uddhav Thackeray would not accept his resignation, he would not campaign for Barne, nor would he work for the party in the forthcoming elections.

Out of the race: Sitting MP of Maval constituency, Gajanan Babar who resigned from the primary membership of Shiv Sena. Pic/Mohan Patil

"I have been associated with the Sena for the past 44 years and I have worked for the party with utmost honesty. I was sidelined by the party just because I didn't pay money to get the ticket," Babar claimed. He added that party high command promised him to listen to his point of view before taking any decision. "However, when the time came to allot the tickets, no one from the party approached me," Babar said.

Babar said that around 70 per cent of Shiv Sainiks in Pimpri-Chinchwad are his supporters and the party would suffer a major loss in the upcoming LS polls in this area. Two time MLA Babar was elected as MP from Maval in 2009 and closely
associated with Sena supremo Bal Thackeray.