Ex-Shiv Sena corporator Sandip Naik demands disqualification of BJP’s candidate contesting in Andheri bypoll
BJP’s Murji Patel (right) on Friday. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi
The tussle between Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena and the BJP continued following the filing of nominations for the Andheri assembly bypoll, with Sena’s ex-corporator Sandip Naik objecting to the nomination of Murji Patel, a BJP candidate.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Andheri assembly seat has been vacant ever since MLA Ramesh Latke’s passing away, following a heart attack in May this year. October 14 was the last day of the nomination—Rutuja, wife of Latke, who belongs to Uddhav Thackeray’s Sena and Patel from BJP filed nominations on the same day. Experts said that the election would be a litmus test for the upcoming BMC polls.
Also read: Chhagan Bhujbal would have become Maharashtra CM had he not left Sena: Uddhav
On Saturday, Naik, a former Shiv Sena corporator and an alternative candidate for the Andheri bypoll from the Thackeray faction, held a press conference, levelling serious allegations against Patel. Naik also filed a complaint with the election officer. He claimed that Patel was elected as corporator on a fake caste certificate and therefore, barred from standing for municipal elections for six years. “He went to the [Bombay] high court against the decision, but even the court dismissed his petition. We requested the Election Commission to reject his nomination,” said Naik.
Election officers told mid-day that they have followed the guidelines set by the Election Commission of India and there isn’t any mention of rejection of nomination on grounds of disqualification at corporation-election level. Also, the election is being held on a seat without caste reservation. Naik has threatened to move court if the EC doesn’t reject the nomination.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
