Raj Thackeray urges BJP to again out from Andheri east by-election

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray wrote a letter to Devendra Fadnavis on sixteenth October 2022 suggesting BJP again out from the Andheri east by-poll. The Andheri east meeting seat is vacant as Shiv Sena’s elected consultant from that constituency Ramesh Latke handed away. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) has fielded Latke’s spouse Rujuta Latke from the seat within the upcoming by-election. Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded Murji Patel from this seat. Raj Thackeray requested Fadnavis that because the late MLA’s spouse is contesting from the seat, the ruling alliance shouldn’t contest the bypolls.

In his letter, Raj Thackeray stated, “I am writing this letter with a special request. After the sudden death of MLA, Ramesh Latke, for the Andher- East, the by-poll election has been announced. His widow, Rujuta Latke has filed in for candidature for the same. Shri. Ramesh was an efficient worker who began his journey up from being a ‘shakha-pramukh’ I have witnessed his journey and growth in the political arena. After his death, to see his wife become an MLA in his constituency; will be a solace to his departed soul.”

After the demise of MLA Ramesh Latke, his widow has filed for candidature within the Andheri east by-poll. I request you to not battle any candidate in opposition to her. This will probably be an honourable tribute to the departed soul.@Dev_Fadnavis pic.twitter.com/OE8CDZkQsX

— Raj Thackeray (@RajThackeray) October 16, 2022

He additional wrote within the letter, “I sincerely request you to not enter this by-poll election and put a candidate against Rujuta Latke. Whenever, there has been a situation, wherein a sitting MLA has passed away and a family member has filed for their candidature, our party has refrained from fighting the by-poll. This is our way of paying our reverence to the departed soul. I appeal to you with these sentiments in mind. Sentiments such as these are a part of our Maharashtra culture. I hope you will consider my appeal.”

However, Devendra Fadnavis has rejected the enchantment, saying he alone doesn’t the authority to resolve on the candidate of the get together for the polls. When requested about his response to Raj Thackeray’s letter, Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis stated, “I cannot take decisions alone in the BJP. If I want to take a decision on Raj Thackeray’s letter, I will have to discuss it with party colleagues and senior leaders. Balasaheb’s Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) is also with us. So I have to discuss this with Eknath Shinde also.”

Devendra Fadnavis added, “Raj Thackeray has written this letter in good spirit. We will definitely consider his letter. Even in the past, be it the by-election at the time of RR Patil’s demise or the recent legislative council elections, whenever we were requested like this, we have taken a decision. However, I will have to discuss in the party when we have already fielded a candidate in this election. Only then can the right decision be taken.”

Prasad Lad is the spokesperson of the state unit of the BJP. He stated, “We respect Raj Thackeray. This could be Raj Thackeray’s personal opinion or his party’s opinion. The party leadership Devendra Fadnavis and Ashish Shelar will take a decision on this. In what spirit did he write the letter? We don’t know about it. There was no discussion on this issue. Nevertheless, it will be decided by the party leadership and the party leaders.”