After appealing to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray and the Shiv Sena on Wednesday to “not do injustice to him” by putting pressure to withdraw his nomination for Assembly elections, Shiv Sena candidate from Mahim Assembly constituency Sada Savarkar was on Friday offered an MLC nomination, according to Shinde Sena sources. MNS Chief Raj Thackeray’s son Amit, who is making his debut from the same seat, took a firm stance on Friday stating that “there is no question of (him) withdrawing the nomination”. Sarvankar had gone to meet Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at his official residence Varsha on Thursday. While Sarvankar claimed that he could not meet Shinde, party sources said that Shinde instructed Sarvankar to withdraw from the seat and offered him an MLC nomination. Sarvankar, however, said he will fight and be victorious with the support of Mahimkars. Sarvankar even took a jibe at Raj Thackeray, who had earlier said that the future CM will come from the BJP with the support of the MNS, saying that a party that barely has one MLA commenting about CM was a joke. Mahim constituency in central Mumbai houses the undivided Shiv Sena’s headquarters, the Shiv Sena Bhavan, which is now the Sena (UBT)’s headquarters, and the prestigious Shivaji Park. Since Amit is going to make his electoral debut from the seat, BJP leaders, including Mumbai city president Ashish Shelar and state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule, and Shiv Sena ministers have expressed that the ruling alliance pledge support to him.
