Palghar's incumbent MLA Shrinivas Vanga, who was denied a ticket for the 2024 Maharastra assembly elections by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led faction of Shiv Sena, has been missing from his Talasari home since Monday evening. The missing Shiv Sena leader is the son of BJP's late MP from Palghar Chintaman Vanga.
Vanga has reportedly been unreachable for the last 15 hours, with his phones switched off. Concerned for his well-being, his family members approached the police following which a reach operation was launched to look for him.
This came a day after the 42-year-old legislator broke down in front of the camera saying leaving Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) was a mistake. In the video, he expressed remorse for leaving Uddhav Thackrey's party following the Shiv Sena split in 2022. The MLA also blamed Shinde for not protecting the loyal party members.
On Sunday, the Shinde Sena announced that the ticket from the Palghar seat was being given to former MP Rajendra Gavit, who moved from the BJP to the Shinde Sena to contest the polls. Earlier, speculations were rife that Shinde-Sena Shiv Sena would field Vanga from the seat. However, he was sidelined after the Shinde-led party reached an understanding with the BJP.
Elections to the 288-member assembly will be held on November 20, while the counting of votes will take place three days later. The Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is contesting the elections as part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance also comprising BJP and Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) is contesting the elections as an MVA ally along with the NCP (SP) and Congress.