Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on April 29 announced MLAs Ravindra Waikar and Yamini Jadav as its candidates from Mumbai North West and Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituencies, respectively.
An MLA from Jogeshwari in Mumbai, Mr. Waikar was previously a close associate of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray or UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, before he joined the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde recently. He has been under the scrutiny of Central agencies. He will now be contesting against Amol Kirtikar of the Shiv Sena (UBT).
In the 2019 General Election, the BJP and the then undivided Shiv Sena secured three seats each out of the total of six seats in Mumbai. However, this time, the BJP has decided against renominating any of its three sitting MPs in Mumbai. Instead, they have chosen Piyush Goyal for Mumbai North, Mihir Kotecha for Mumbai North East, and lawyer Ujjwal Nikam for Mumbai North Central.
The Sena had previously won the Mumbai South, Mumbai South Central, and Mumbai North West constituencies. Following a split in the party in 2022, Mumbai South Central MP Rahul Shewale and Mumbai North West MP Gajanan Kirtikar switched allegiance to the Shiv Sena led by Mr. Shinde.
Mr. Shewale has been renominated by the Shiv Sena, while Arvind Sawant has been renominated by Shiv Sena (UBT) for Mumbai South. The ruling BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in the State is yet to announce its candidates for the Mumbai South seat, while the opposition Congress has not yet announced its candidate for the Mumbai North seat.
Also read | Enforcement Directorate raids Thackeray camp MLA Ravindra Waikar’s properties
The Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) has fielded Byculla MLA Yamini Jadav from the Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat. The BJP and Shiv Sena were vying to contest this prestigious seat, with speculation around several names as potential candidates, including Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar and State Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha. Ms. Jadav will be contesting against Shiv Sena (UBT)’s incumbent MP Mr. Sawant.
Ms. Jadhav, alongside her husband Yashwant Jadhav, former Chairperson of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Standing Committee, was under the scrutiny of Central agencies. They were among the first to support Mr. Shinde during his rebellion against the then party leader and CM Mr. Thackeray.
The elections for all six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai are scheduled for May 20.
