History tells us that political decision-making is devoid of sentiments. Ultimately, it’s the political expediency that matters. The display of emotions is just for public consumption, whereas the covert end is to pursue what is advantageous for the party. The recent withdrawal of candidature from the by-poll of Andheri-East Vidhan Sabha by the BJP seat is being perceived in this context.
Recently, the bypoll for the Andheri-East assembly seat was announced after Ramesh Latke, the legislator representing it, died because of cardiac arrest in Dubai last May. The BJP fielded Murji Patel from the seat whereas the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) gave a ticket to Latke’s widow Rutuja.
The candidature of Rutuja wasn’t an easy one. She was an employee of the BMC and, as per the rules; it was required that she should resign from her job. However, Uddhav’s Shiv Sena alleged she was being pressurised to contest as a candidate from the rival Shinde faction and acceptance of her resignation was delayed deliberately.
Ultimately, Rutuja Latke approached the Bombay High Court, which directed the BMC to accept the resignation.
While the legal impediment over Latke’s candidature was cleared, MNS chief Raj Thackeray shot a letter to Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis requesting that the BJP should withdraw its candidates. Thackeray cited a tradition in Maharashtra wherein widows of deceased legislators could win unopposed and no party fielded candidates against them.
Pratap Sarnaik, an MLA of the Eknath Shinde faction, also urged for the withdrawal of candidature.
Sharad Pawar, the NCP chief, also echoed the same sentiments. The BJP leadership slept over these pleas only to suddenly announce the withdrawal of Murji’s candidature, barely three hours before the deadline.
The BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule told journalists that the decision was taken to conform to Maharashtra’s political tradition. However, political pundits believe that the withdrawal of the candidature was based on prudence, and claiming that it was influenced by the state’s political tradition, is just an eyewash. The BJP didn’t want to become penny-wise and pound-foolish. It is putting all its efforts to win the BMC polls in the coming few months and didn’t want its opponents to score a point for their campaign.
The Thackeray-led Shiv Sena would have gone to town alleging that the BJP was suppressing Marathi Manoos in Mumbai. Murji Patel is a Gujarati while Rutuja Latke is a Maharashtrian.
Moreover, there are very few Gujarati voters in Andheri. Apart from the Gujarati-Marathi issue, the undercurrents suggested that a sympathy wave was generated in favour of Rutuja Latke. This made the BJP’s position risky.
Although BJP has withdrawn its candidate, it would not be a cakewalk for Latke. Around half a dozen independents are contesting against her. The election will be held on November 3.
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