Maharashtra Elections 2024: Sarvankar stays in fray in Mahim, all eyes on BJP voters

Shinde Sena candidate Sada Sarvankar stayed in the fight against MNS chief Raj Thackeray's son Amit for the Mahim Assembly constituency, but not before drama unfolded in Dadar on Monday afternoon as the deadline for nomination withdrawal came to a close. Raj refused to meet Sarvankar, asking him to "do what he wanted", because the veteran had given enough hints that he was determined to make it a three-way contest with Sena (UBT) nominee Mahesh Sawant also in the fray.

Earlier in the day, Sarvankar said he had no specific instructions from his party boss, CM Eknath Shinde, to withdraw. He had also put a condition that, if he were to withdraw, then the MNS could also pull out its candidates against Mahayuti from other constituencies in Mumbai.

Amit Thackeray plays football with youngsters at Prabhdevi beach while on his campaign trail on Monday. Pic/Ashish Raje

‘Why only me?'

"Shinde asked me to discuss with my local supporters before taking any decision and also asked me to meet Raj Thackeray. I was ready to take Raj Thackeray's orders. But he refused to meet me," said Sarvankar, after his son and associates returned from Raj's Shivaji Park residence with a message that he didn't want to discuss elections with him and that he may contest or withdraw.

Sarvankar said he had no option left but to fight as the Mahayuti candidate. "Some BJP leaders may have extended their support to Raj Thackeray's son because of their friendship, but I'm sure the Mahayuti workers will campaign for me and win the elections."

Sada Sarvankar

All-Marathi again

Sarvankar has won Mahim since 2014. He beat MNS heavyweight candidates, including a sitting MLA, twice, after he was beaten in 2009 by MNS. It was the undivided Shiv Sena that powered him between 2014 and 2019. Now, the Sena is split. MNS is already there nurturing the constituency. Raj fielded his son expecting cooperation from his friends in Shinde Sena and BJP. He also expected a return favour from his estranged cousin whose son Aaditya was given a pass by MNS in Worli in 2019. But as it turned out, not only Shinde Sena but also Uddhav Sena gave their official candidates in Mahim, making it a contest between three Marathi candidates having their affiliation with undivided Sena's offsprings. This year, MNS has put a candidate Sandeep Deshpande in Worli against Aaditya, making it tougher for the ex-minister, whose other opponent is Milind Deora (Shinde Sena).

BJP a deciding factor

In Mahim, MNS has maintained a share of 40-42,000 votes in the last two elections. Sarvankar, as a Congress candidate, had polled less than his 2014 and 2019 share in 2009 but finished a second runner-up ahead of Shiv Sena's Aadesh Bandekar. That was a triangular fight between three Marathi candidates. However, Sarvankar increased his share in 2014 and took it up further in 2019, bagging almost 50 per cent votes, thanks to the BJP's contribution. BJP had polled over 33,000 votes here in 2014 when it had fought independent of undivided Sena. Observers said Sarvankar's fate will depend largely on the BJP, whose senior BJP leaders Devendra Fadnavis, Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Ashish Shelar have openly supported Raj Thackeray's son.

36
No. of Assembly seats in Mumbai