MNS chief requests BJP not to contest bypoll; let Rutuja Latke win unopposed, says Pawar

Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar also appealed to the BJP to make the bypoll an unopposed contest by withdrawing its candidate. Addressing a press conference at his home, Silver Oak, on Sunday, Pawar said it didn’t make any sense to hold the bypoll considering the tenure left on the seat is only for one-and-a-half years. “It is better to let Rutuja (Latke) win unopposed. Contesting an election for the sake of 1.5 years is meaningless. It takes a heavy toll on all the candidates who contest assembly elections. It is better to avoid it this time,” said Pawar.

Raj Thackeray’s letter to Fadnavis comes a day after his meeting with Chief Minister Shinde. On Sunday morning, Mumbai unit president of the BJP Ashish Shelar too met him seeking support for party candidate Murji Patel in the byelection necessitated after the death of Ramesh Latke. Latke’s wife Rutuja is contesting the election as a candidate from Shiv Sena (UBT).

“Late Ramesh Latke’s wife Rutuja Latke is contesting the election after her husband’s death. I have been a witness to Ramesh Latke’s journey from a worker to MLA. His wife becoming an MLA after his death would be a tribute to the departed soul. I request the BJP not to contest the byelection and instead, ensure that Rutuja Latke becomes the MLA. This will also be in accordance with Maharashtra’s political culture,” Raj Thackeray wrote in his letter to Fadnavis.

Acknowledging Raj Thackeray’s letter, Fadnavis said, “I alone cannot take decision in my party. We have filed the nomination and announcement has come from above. We will have to speak with our leadership before giving reply to this letter. We will also have to discuss with our ally Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena. Only then can I comment on this.”

Speaking to reporters, NCP chief Pawar said that considering the work Ramesh Latke had done as a corporator and a legislator, it will only be appropriate to let his wife Rutuja win unopposed. “I would not have said this had it been three or four years before the next assembly elections,” he added.

Thanking Pawar, former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that the NCP chief has preserved the sanctity of Maharashtra’s political culture with his appeal.

In a statement released after Pawar’s press conference, Uddhav Thackeray said the politics of Maharashtra is based on higher values and culture. “Shiv Sena has always followed that after the death of Gopinathji Munde, R R Patil and Mrs (Shailaja) Girkar of the BJP and did not declare official candidate in an election after their death. Sharad Pawar has shown the legacy of rich Maharashtra culture like Yashawantrao Chavan, Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray, late Vilasrao Deshmukh and late Pramod Mahajan.”

In his letter to CM Shinde, Sarnaik said the act of not fielding a candidate against Rutuja Latke would grant her late husband some solace.

The BJP and Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena are contesting the election in an alliance.

According to sources, two voices have emerged within the BJP over the bypoll issue. “A section feels that the party should have left the seat for the Shinde group but the other wants to take Uddhav Thackeray head on, without fearing the sympathy wave for the Opposition candidate,” said a Mumbai BJP leader.