Sena hopes MIM will split Congress votes in prestigious battle

It is only ironic that the Shiv Sena is hoping that the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) will fare better and poll more votes in the April 11 by-election in the Bandra (East) constituency here.

The Sena thus looks for an easy win for its candidate against Congress candidate and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane.

The by-election is being held following the death of Sena’s MLA Prakash, alias Bala Sawant.

The Sena is attempting to hold on to this prestigious seat as its chief, Uddhav Thackeray, lives here. The party has given the ticket to Trupti Sawant, widow of Bala Sawant.

The election may decide the political fate of Mr. Rane, who lost the previous election in October from his home constituency of Kudal in Konkan. A former Sena leader, Mr. Rane is putting in all efforts to turn the tide.

But many predict that the AIMIM holds the key here. Its candidate, Rahbar Khan, is contesting again.

In the October elections, Mr. Khan came third with 23,976 votes and the Congress got 12,229 votes.

A constituency with over 80,000 Muslim voters, the Sena wants the MIM to grab as many votes of the community as possible.

The MIM, however, rejected claims that party’s candidature will help the Sena. “There are many seats where we did not contest and still the Congress lost,” said Waris Pathan, MIM’s MLA from Byculla.