MUMBAI, 4 NOVEMBER, 2024 (GPN): Muslims will not vote for or extend their support to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena that “demolished their dargah”, said Shiv Sena’s Mahim candidate Sada Sarvankar on Monday. His statement came on the last day of the withdrawal of nomination for the upcoming assembly elections.

Mahim is a mixed demographic constituency. A stronghold of the united Shiv Sena, it has a mix of upper class and upper caste Marathi voters and Muslim voters.

Sarvankar, who is taking on Raj Thackeray’s son Amit Thackeray, said he has the blessings of all senior leaders of the Mahayuti. “Eknath Shinde ji called me, and I informed him that the Muslim community will not vote for the MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena), as the MNS demolished their dargah. Because of this, they will not support the MNS. Shinde ji asked me to convey all this to Raj Thackeray ji. I have worked for all sections of society,” he said.

Shiv Sena MLA Sada Sarvankar further claimed that he was asked by party president Eknath Shinde to meet Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray and “accept his orders no matter what” regarding his candidature from the Mahim seat.

Sada Sarvankar, the sitting MLA from Mahim, is pitted against Raj Thackeray’s son Amit on the seat. There were reports that the BJP, Shiv Sena’s ally, urged Sarvankar to withdraw his nomination to not split the Mahayuti vote.

Shiv Sena candidate from Mahim Assembly Constituency Sada Sarvankar tweeted, “… On being asked by CM Eknath Shinde, I went to meet Raj Thackeray to advise him on a suitable candidate for the seat. I was asked to accept Raj Thackeray’s decision no matter what. But even after waiting for some time, he did not agree to meet me… I have the highest regard for Raj Thackeray and I see him as a reflection of Balasaheb Thackeray. I would have followed his orders had he met me once. But now I have filled my form as a Mahayuti candidate and I will work for the people of Mahim…”

Talking to GPN Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, said the BJP had asked Shiv Sena to support Amit Thackeray backed by MNS Chief Raj Thackeray and to withdraw Sada Sarvankar as its candidate.

“There is nothing like BJP asking us to do certain things. The candidate that has been fielded by us is the sitting MLA from Mahim. Certain decisions should be taken on time. If that does not happen, speculations start doing rounds,” Eknath Shinde said.

A three-way high-stakes fight is expected in Mahim after Shiv Sena (UBT) named Mahesh Sawant as the candidate from the assembly constituency. The fight will be between Sada Sarvankar of the Shiv Sena, Amit Thackeray of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), and Sawant.

In 2019, when the Shiv Sena had not split, MNS’s Sandeep Deshpande contested from the seat and lost to Sarvankar. In 2014, Sarvankar defeated MNS’s Nitin Sardesai. In 2009, the Shiv Sena fielded Aadesh Bandekar, who lost to Sardesai.

The MNS on Tuesday last week launched Amit Thackeray into electoral politics from the Maharashtrian strongholdas it released a list of 45 candidates from across the state for the assembly poll.

The MNS is aiming at an understanding with the Shiv Sena in three seats in the city, including Worli, where MNS functionary Sandeep Deshpande will contest against sitting Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray.

Of the 45 names MNS declared on Tuesday, 18 were for seats in the city.