A picture of BJP legislator Mangal Prabhat Lodha with Congress MP Milind Deora has got the BJP’s city unit anxious, as they fear their ally the Shiv Sena may take offence
Mangal Prabhat Lodha, the BJP MLA from Malabar hill in south Mumbai, is courting controversy after a picture of him with Congress MP Milind Deora has started doing the rounds on social networking websites.
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A picture of BJP legislator Mangal Prabhat Lodha with Congress candidate Milind Deora clicked during an event at Azad Maidan on Monday has not gone down well with BJP top brass in the city
The BJP’s city unit said that with only a few days to go before the city goes to the polls, the picture could stir up unnecessary controversy, landing them in trouble with their ally the Shiv Sena.
The BJP apprehensions stem from the fact that Lodha earlier wanted his son Abhinandan to contest the seat, but that didn’t materialise and Sena’s Arvind Sawant secured the crucial seat. Party workers feel the picture could be used by the Congress to claim that Lodha is supporting their candidate.
The picture was clicked on Monday during an event at Azad Maidan where Deora, Lodha and allegedly Sawant also were in attendance. Soon after, the picture was posted by Deora on his Facebook account, which caught the eye of a BJP party worker who brought it to the notice of senior leaders.
“A party activist showed us the picture. It was on Deora’s facebook account, which has been set up to broadcast his work and campaign details in the constituency.
This obviously doesn’t look good, as our candidate is from the Sena. There have been many instances in the recent past where the Sena men have complained to the BJP higher-ups that they don’t get proper support from us,” said a senior BJP leader, on condition of anonymity.
Lodha most accessible
People from Sawant’s camp, however, claimed that they aren’t affected by such activities and didn’t want to comment on it. A party leader looking after Sawant’s campaign said that whenever they invite Lodha, he makes it a point to come for their events.
'Community event'
“I had gone for a community event and that is when the picture was clicked. I am right now at Arvind Sawant’s rally and I am campaigning for him,” said Mangal Prabhat Lodha.
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