High-Stakes Showdown in Worli as CM Shinde Picks Milind Deora to Face Aditya Thackeray
Pune: With most parties releasing their first lists of candidates, attention is now focused on the Worli assembly constituency, where Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray is set to contest again. Thackeray, who secured an easy victory from Worli in the 2019 assembly elections, is facing a more challenging contest this time around.
In 2019, Aditya Thackeray made his electoral debut from Worli and won comfortably. At that time, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) did not field a candidate against him, and Shiv Sena strengthened its hold by having NCP leader Sachin Ahir join the party just before the election. Additionally, then-incumbent MLA Sunil Shinde was moved to the Legislative Council to clear the path for Aditya Thackeray. The Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in the state further contributed to an easier path to victory for Thackeray in his first election.
However, with the split within Shiv Sena, Thackeray’s campaign in Worli is expected to be far more competitive this time. In a tactical move, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has selected Shiv Sena’s Rajya Sabha MP and former Union Minister Milind Deora as their candidate for Worli. Furthermore, MNS has also entered the fray, nominating Sandeep Deshpande as its candidate from the same constituency.
Milind Deora confirmed his candidature on X, noting, “Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has instructed me to stand for election to give justice to Worlikars. Together, we will serve Worli and its residents. Soon, we will share our development vision for Worli. The time for Worli has come,” Deora posted on his X account.
