Deepak Sawant of Shiv Sena stakes claim to Mumbai Graduate Constituency

MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena’s

Deepak Sawant

has declared his interest in contesting the

MLC elections

from the

Mumbai graduate constituency

from the Mahayuti’s quota, a sign of a possible tussle between the chief minister

Eknath Shinde

’s

Shiv Sena

and its alliance partner the BJP.
The BJP has staked claim to the seat but Sawant told the media on Sunday that the seat belongs to the Shiv Sena.
“I am interested in contesting elections from Mumbai graduate constituency. Traditionally, the Shiv Sena has contested the seat of Mumbai Graduate Constituency. I was on the Legislative Council earlier. This seat belongs to Shiv Sena and if tradition is considered, this seat should be contested by Shiv Sena in grand alliance. But BJP and Shiv Sena will take a decision in this regard together.
The name of

Anil Parab

has already been announced by the Thackeray group for the election of the Mumbai graduate constituency. The election for the four seats of the Legislative Council in the state will be held on June 26 and the result will be declared on July 1. Earlier, Vilas Potnis of Shiv Sena Thackeray faction was MLA in Mumbai graduate constituency.

However, the Mahayuti is still to announce its candidate for the seat. Delays in the announcement will give the Shiv Sena (UBT) some advantage in the time for campaigning.
Anil Parab represents the Shiv Sena (UBT) in the Legislative Council. He is a close aide of

Uddhav Thackeray

and had served as Transport Minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. His tenure as an MLC is ending on July 27^th.
Deepak Sawant joined Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena in the presence of chief minister Shinde.
Mr Sawant was an MLC of then united Shiv Sena and was a cabinet minister for public health from 2014 to 2018 in the Devendra Fadanvis-led government.
He was dropped from the cabinet and denied a ticket for the legislative council election by Uddhav Thackeray in 2018.