The Shiv Sena, which has so far managed to ward off any major rebellion in its ranks following the announcement of candidates, faces a potent challenger in Trupti Sawant, its MLA from Vandre East. Sawant rebelled after she was overlooked by the party in favour of Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar. The rebellion is significant as the constituency covers Thackerays' family residence — 'Matoshree'.
Trupti had emerged as a giant-killer after trouncing former CM and Shiv Sena dissident Narayan Rane from the constituency in a 2015 bypoll, necessitated after the death of her husband, Thackeray family loyalist and then MLA Prakash (Bala) Sawant. The loss came as a double whammy for Rane, who had been defeated by Vaibhav Naik of the Shiv Sena from his Kudal constituency in the 2014 assembly elections.
Now, Sawant has been dropped in favour of Mahadeshwar. The constituency, which has a significant number of Maharashtrians, government staff, Muslims and Dalits, has Zeeshan Siddique (Congress), the son of former minister of state Baba Siddiqui, Akhil Chitre of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Muhammed Qureshi of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), in the fray.
"I am firm on my decision," Trupti told DNA, blaming local Sena functionaries and senior leaders for working against her renomination for their vested interests. "I have the sympathy of the voters. Even today, people respect us like the time when Saheb (late Bala Sawant) was there... I will fight for Bala Sawant... there are attempts to destroy his legacy," she said, claiming Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had not taken her into confidence before taking the decision.
Bala Sawant, who was close to late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, rose from the ranks to become a corporator from the constituency and later a legislator in 2009 and 2014, before passing away in 2015.
However, a senior Sena leader claimed Trupti was dropped after reports of dissatisfaction over her performance. "She was elected in 2015 due to sympathy for Bala Sawant and because the ordinary Shiv Sainiks worked hard to teach Narayan Rane a lesson. However, her performance left a lot to be expected. Local Shiv Sainiks felt neglected. Her rebellion may have some impact as Bala Sawant's name commands respect even today. But, we were in a Catch-22 situation on her renomination, and finally chose to drop her," he explained.
The Sena leader claimed that Mahadeshwar enjoys influence in as many as three municipal wards in the constituency, and could hence win the seat.
Akhil Chitre said Sawant's rebellion would fracture Sena's vote base and also transfer the floating votes, which usually went to Shiv Sena, to the MNS kitty. He claimed that despite being a Shiv Sena stronghold and the home pitch of the party's first family, the constituency has issues like delayed SRA projects and pending redevelopment of MHADA buildings and the government colony.
