MNS to help Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate in Ambarnath

Mumbai: The MNS will help a Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate being a friend. MNS MLA Raju Patil and Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate from the Ambarnath Assembly constituency met at a Diwali programme in Ambarnath and held a discussion.

The MNS has not fielded its candidate from the segment. There is a direct fight between Shiv Sena (BT) candidate Dr Balaji Kinikar and Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Rajesh Wankhede.

Following their friendly meeting, media persons asked a few questions to Raju Patil. Replying to a query, Patil said, “My party is not contesting from Ambarnath. Raj Saheb has not issued any instructions to us. Rajesh Wankhede is our friend. Therefore, we will help him in the election. We will decide our next course if we get any directives from the party.”

Wankhede said, “All MNS workers are my friends. I expect them to support me in this poll. I am sure the MNS will definitely help me.”

Ambarnath Assembly segment

Dr Balaji Kinikar is the Shiv Sena (BT) candidate in Ambarnath constituency. He followed Eknath Shinde after a split in the party. Shinde has retained him as his party’s candidate in the seat.

Rajesh More is the Shiv Sena (BT) candidate in the Kalyan rural seat. This has irked the MNS. Therefore, the MNS could be supporting a Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate.

Sada Sarvankar determined to contest from Mahim

MNS President Raj Thackeray has fielded his son Amit from Mahim, where Shiv Sena (BT) candidate Sada Sarvankar is contesting. The BJP wants to help Amit Thackeray here.

However, Eknath Shinde supported Sarvankar’s candidature on the pretext that his workers would be demoralised if he told Sarvankar to withdraw his nomination. Now, the MNS has reminded Shinde about the Kalyan Lok Sabha election and criticised him for being narrow-minded.