Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Oct 17: After been uncertain for days if she will be able to file her nomination as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation continued to play truant, Uddhav Thackeray factions Rutuja Latke on Monday became almost certain to get elected to the Maharashtra state Assembly unopposed from the Andheri East constituency held by her husband Ramesh Latke.
In response to appeals from various political parties, including its ruling alliance partner Eknath Shine faction of the Shiv Sena, the BJP agreed to withdraw from the contest “in tribute to the contributions of Ramesh Latke.” As per the party’s direction, the BJP candidate for the seat in the by-election Murji Patel withdrew his nomination papers on the last day of withdrawal on Monday to pave the way for Ms Latke’s election unopposed from the seat.
“I would like to thank all party leaders and workers for supporting me. I will work for the welfare of the public,” Rutuja said. The Andheri (East) Assembly seat fell vacant after Sena MLA Ramesh Latke, Rutuja’s husband, suffered a heart attack and died in May this year. The by-election to the seat is scheduled for November 3.
The unusual gesture from the BJP that set up bitter rival Uddhav Thackeray’s victory followed unexpected appeals from the Shinde faction, Thackeray’s estranged cousin brother Raj Thackeray who heads Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) as well as the Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar.
Pratap Sarnaik, an MLA of Eknath Shinde’s Sena, wrote to the Chief Minister that the BJP should not field a candidate against Rutuja Latke as a tribute to her late husband. All parties should back Ms Latke and let her win the election, Mr Sarnaik told his party boss.
Before him, support for Uddhav Thackeray’s candidate came from his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray, who after the recent split in the Shiv Sena sided with the Shinde faction. The MNS chief wrote to BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis urging him to withdraw his party’s candidate so Rutuja Latke could win unopposed.
“Late Ramesh Latke’s wife Rutuja Latke is contesting the election after her husband’s death. I have been a witness to Ramesh Latke’s journey from a worker to MLA. His wife becoming an MLA after his death would be a tribute to the departed soul.” “I think by doing this we are paying tribute to the late representative of the people. To do so is also in line with the great culture of our Maharashtra. I hope you will accept my request,” he wrote.
NCP Chief Sharad Pawar also appealed to the BJP to withdraw its candidate. “The term for the new member (MLA) will be just one-and-half years. The by-poll is being held because of the unfortunate death of Ramesh Latke. His contribution must be taken into consideration,” Mr. Pawar said.
Before the gesture, the team Thackeray had accused Eknath Shinde’s faction of trying to sabotage their candidate by influencing the Mumbai civic body to delay her resignation. Ms Latke, who worked in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) as a clerk, could file her nomination for the by-polls only after an order from the Bombay High Court a day before the last day of filling nominations, directing the BMC to accept her resignation immediately to enable her to file her papers. The BMC had been delaying a decision for weeks causing uncertainty in the Uddhav Thackeray camp if their candidate would be able to file her papers.