The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has replaced sitting MP Kirit Somaiya with three-time Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) corporator from Mulund Manoj Kotak as the party candidate from the Mumbai North East constituency.
Mr. Somaiya’s name was hanging fire after Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had taken objection to the allegations of corruption against him made by the two-time lawmaker. The party on Wednesday announced Mr. Kotak’s candidature after days of speculation and parleys between the Sena and the BJP.
Later in the day, Mr. Kotak and Mr. Somaiya presented a unified face announcing they would fight together to ensure Prime Minister Narendra Modi a second term in the Lok Sabha. “My heartiest congratulation to Manoj Kotak ji. He is like a younger brother to me. After serving three terms in the BMC, he is well aware of problems of the Mumbai city. I am sure he will represent Mumbai in an excellent way in Parliament. The victory of the BJP in Mumbai North East shall be one of the biggest in Maharashtra,” said Mr. Somaiya after the nomination was announced.
Mr. Kotak, who has served on various BMC committees, including the standing and the improvements committee, is believed to be groomed by party’s Mumbai president Ashish Shelar. “He is an excellent candidate and knows the constituency and subjects well from his term in the corporation. We will all work together to ensure his win,” said BJP spokesperson and Mr. Kotak’s close colleague in the BMC, Bhalchandra Shirsat.
“This is an issue which was deeply discussed by the party’s parliamentary board and it has nothing to do with the Sena or its opposition to Mr. Somaiya's nomination. The party has considered various views and ground realities before taking this decision,” Cabinet Minister and BJP leader Vinod Tawde said.
Mr. Somaiya’s candidature was facing stiff opposition from the Sena, and was the only probable to be put on hold of the total 25 seats the party is to contest in Maharashtra. His name did not feature in the first list announced by the BJP, which had named 16 candidates, including two from Mumbai, from Maharashtra.
The next list of six also did not feature the name of the incumbent MP, who represented the constituency in the 13th and 16th Lok Sabha. Mr. Somaiya, who defeated the Nationalist Congress Party’s Sanjay Dina Patil in 2014, has made corruption charges against several Sena leaders, including the party chief. The Sena has, since the alliance was announced, opposed his candidature.
Sources in the party said they have persuaded Mr. Somaiya not to directly reach out to the Sena and the party president. Mr. Somaiya is rumoured to have met the Sena chief last week. However, the BJP had denied the meeting. “He (Mr. Somaiya) never asked for a meeting with Matoshree. It was a rumour. Mr. Thackeray and the honourable CM are trying their best to win the North East seat. The right decision will be taken at the right time,” Mr. Tawde had said.
