Lok Sabha elections: Two candidates fighting to represent 'real' Shiv Sena in Mumbai North West seat
contest in North West Mumbai Lok Sabha seat is not only interesting but confusing also for the voters and both the main candidates fighting from here claim to represent the «real» Shiv Sena. That is not the only thing connecting Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray Sena leader Amol Kirtikar and his rival Jogeshwari East MLA Ravindra Waikar from the Shinde camp of Sena.
Both have allegations of being involved in scams against them and both are being probed by the Enforcement Directorate.
Kirtikar is the son of Gajanan Kirtikar, current MP from the seat. After the Shiv Sena split, the MP joined the Shinde faction whereas the son preferred to stay back with the UBT camp.
Amol has been rewarded for his «loyalty» by his party by giving him the ticket even when the Congress was very keen to contest the seat as it wanted to field Sanjay Nirupam from here.
Chief minister Eknath Shinde after looking at a number of permutations and combinations finally gave the ticket to a reluctant Waikar. The Jogeshwari East MLA, who was a close aide of Uddhav Thackeray, moved to the Shinde faction in April this year.
The BJP has been alleging that Waikar has dubious property deals with Uddhav's family. He was also facing a probe by the ED in connection with the construction of a luxury hotel in Jogeshwari.
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