New Delhi: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray wrote to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday urging him not to field his party's candidate for the upcoming Andheri East bypoll to show reverence to late MLA Ramesh Latke. He made the unexpected request so that Rutuja Latke, who is contesting in place of her late husband, could win.
In a letter addressed to Fadnavis, which he posted on social media, Thackeray said the MNS will not be contesting the byelection to show its reverence for the deceased MLA.
“The Andheri East bypoll was necessitated after the death of sitting MLA Ramesh Latke and his wife Rutuja has filed her nomination. The MNS will not contest the election as our way of paying reverence to the departed soul,” the MNS chief said.
Appealing to Fadnavis, he said, “I sincerely request you not to enter the byelection and field a candidate against Rutuja Latke. I have witnessed late Ramesh Latke's journey and growth in the political arena."
Ramesh Latke, the sitting MLA from Andheri East, died of a cardiac arrest in May, necessitating the bypoll.
While Fadnavis admitted the letter was sent to him in good faith, he said he would have to discuss the issue with the party leadership before taking any decision.
“In earlier instances when there was proper communication, we had decided not to contest bypolls. For instance, when NCP leader and former home minister RR Patil had died. It is not like we (BJP) never considered opting out of a byelection. Whenever there is a proper communication or appeal to made to us, we have responded properly,” PTI quoted the deputy chief minister as saying.
Notably, the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has also decided to support Rutuja Latke, who is contesting from Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray party.
Responding to Raj Thackeray's appeal, Shiv Sena chief spokesperson and MP Arvind Sawant said, “I welcome Raj Thackeray's appeal, but it is too late. The nominations have already been filed and the election is forced on us because of the BJP. The BJP has contested similar bypolls in the past when the election was necessitated due to a sitting MLA's death.”
Meanwhile, Rutuja Latke said that she had thought this would be a unanimous election, however, she was ready to fight the bypoll.