This is an archive article published on October 13, 2022
Who is Rutuja Latke, Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena candidate who won Andheri East bypoll
Rutuja Latke is the widow of former Sena MLA from Andheri (East), Ramesh Latke, who died after a heart attack in May 2022 in Dubai.
Written by Pratip Acharya
Mumbai | Updated: November 8, 2022 01:39 PM IST
3 min read
Whatsapp
twitter
Facebook
Reddit
Rutuja Latke resigned on October 3, however, her resignation is yet to be accepted by the civic administration. (Express Photo)
The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)’s candidate Rutuja Latke registered a comfortable win in the Andheri East bypoll held on November 3. The counting of votes was held on Sunday (November 6).
Rutuja Latke had resigned from the BMC on October 3, however, her resignation was brought up before the Bombay High Court, as the civic body did not accept it. The BMC’s decision not to immediately relieve Latke put a question mark on her ability to contest the Andheri East bypoll. As per Rule 6 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Service (Conduct) Regulations, 1989, an employee of the BMC is prohibited from contesting elections.
Rutuja Latke is the widow of former Sena MLA from Andheri (East), Ramesh Latke, who died after a heart attack in May 2022 in Dubai. Ramesh latke was a two-time MLA from Andheri (East), and prior to that, he was a civic corporator of the area.
Rutuja Latke worked as an assistant clerk in the office of the assistant municipal commissioner at BMC’s K/East ward office in Andheri (East) and looked after administrative work. According to the civic body’s officials, Latke had been employed with the BMC for more than a decade now.
Before filing her nomination for the upcoming bypoll, Latke stayed away from the public’s eye and was never directly involved in politics. Sources in the BMC said Latke played a key role and worked along with frontline workers of the BMC during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
Latke’s decision to file her nomination came with the intention of filling her husband’s position. In her resignation letter, Latke stated, “The untimely demise of my husband has compelled me to take part in the election since the position of MLA for the Andheri (East) is vacant”.
While there were speculations about Latke joining the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena, she took to her Facebook profile and announced she will support Uddhav Thackeray. “Our loyalty is with Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, I will fight on the torch symbol only and will win too,” posted Latke on her Facebook profile along with her photo with her son Amey Latke and Uddhav Thackeray.
Story continues below this ad
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leaders had claimed the BMC was not accepting the resignation of Latke as it was “under pressure”. However, officials at the BMC had said the procedure to look into her resignation is still ongoing. According to them, employees who resign from the civic body have to serve a compulsory 30-day notice period before they are relieved from service.
Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India.
Expertise & Authority
Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai.
Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in:
Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting.
City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region.
Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis:
National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019.
State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019.
Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis.
Experience
Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies:
Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014).
Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express.
Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More
3 min read
