MLC polls: As Sena UBT announces candidates on all four seats, Patole says Congress not consulted

He demanded that Thackeray withdraw candidates from the Konkan Graduates and Nashik Teachers constituencies to allow Congress to field their own candidates.

The elections for the four Legislative Council seats — Mumbai and Konkan Graduates and Nashik and Mumbai Teachers constituencies — are scheduled for June 26.

Following the Election Commission’s announcement of date for the MLC polls, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) announced candidates for all four seats without consulting the Congress and NCP, creating friction between the parties, according to sources.

“Uddhav Thackeray was in London when I informed him that the Congress planned to contest two MLC seats, Nashik and Konkan, in alliance as MVA. We told him that we would contest two seats in the Legislative Council, and he should contest the other two. However, he later called our candidate from Nashik and announced his name as a candidate from Sena (UBT),” Patole said.

He added, “Had the decision been made after discussing with MVA alliance partners, it would have been easier to win all four seats. But Uddhav declared all the seats on his own. I have been trying to contact him since this morning, but he cannot be reached. What’s on his mind will be known only after a meeting. We have not fielded a candidate in Mumbai. However, they have announced mutual candidates. Congress’s stand is that we should all fight under MVA.”

Patole expressed hope that there is still time to withdraw the nominations and a decision in this regard can be made by Uddhav. “We tried to contact Uddhav Thackeray, but he was abroad and couldn’t be reached. We tried to connect at Matoshree today but we were not able to connect as well,” Patole said.

Responding to Patole, Sena (UBT) leader and MLC Ambadas Danve said that Shiv Sena (UBT) had put up its candidates as it had earlier contested these seats.

“Shiv Sena had contested these four seats last time too, and they are our stronghold. Therefore, Shiv Sena has fielded candidates for all the four seats. If they say Uddhav Thackeray did not pick up the phone, Shiv Sena has a system and hierarchy. There are many leaders to discuss these issues. Even if you contact them, the issue can be resolved,” Danve said.