They will represent the people

Coincidentally, Monday also saw underworld don Dawood Ibrahim8217;s brother, Iqbal Kaskar, moving the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act court seeking permission to file nominations in Umarkhadi and Nagpada 8212; both predominantly Muslim areas 8212; in South Mumbai.

Kaskar is currently behind bars in Arthur Road jail, facing charges of land-grabbing and for using underworld money in the infamous Sara-Sahara shopping complex case in Mumbai.

In a surprise to many Shiv Sena activists, former MLA Ramesh Prabhu filed his papers as an Independent from Vile Parle in North West Mumbai, an area dominated by middle-class Maharashtrians and Gujaratis.

In the Sena, Prabhu was more than just a party leader. Elected in 1990, Prabhu was disqualified by the Supreme Court because Sena supremo Bal Thackeray had sought votes on the basis of Hindutva. This was the same case where Thackeray was disenfranchised by the Election Commission for a few years.

Ironically, Subhash Desai, the second Sena MLA who had been disqualified after Prabhu, filed his nomination as the party8217;s official candidate in North Mumbai8217;s Goregaon constituency.

Trusted in the Thackeray family, the low-profile Desai is well-versed in Sena politics. If the saffron combine wins, many in the party even see him as a contender for the chief minister8217;s post.

The BJP added a touch of glamour to the galaxy of underworld dons and politicians by nominating fashion designer Shaina NC, the daughter of former sheriff Nana Chudasama, from Tony Bandra.