Image Credit: X account @DrSEShinde
Shrikant Shinde to Lead Sena’s Campaign Against Aaditya Thackeray in Worli
The battle for the prestigious Worli assembly seat has intensified, with the Shiv Sena appointing Shrikant Shinde, son of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, to spearhead the party’s campaign against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray.
Shinde, an MLA himself, will be at the forefront of the Sena’s efforts to unseat Aaditya in this high-profile constituency.
Sena Nominates Milind Deora, MNS Joins the Race
On Friday, the Sena further fueled the contest by nominating Milind Deora as its candidate to challenge Aaditya. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), led by Raj Thackeray, has also entered the fray, fielding Sandeep Deshpande and turning the election into a three-way race.
Shrikant Shinde’s Strategy to Secure Worli
Shrikant Shinde has been given full support and resources to back Deora, and he is personally overseeing the campaign. His strategy involves engaging with diverse voter demographics in Worli, including the fishing community, high-rise residents, and the dominant Maharashtrian community, which constitutes 60% of the electorate. Shinde will also focus on the Marwadi and Gujarati populations to strengthen Deora’s position.
On Sunday, the Sena ramped up its efforts with two key meetings in the constituency. The first involved a core group of workers discussing the poll strategy, while the second included local leaders from the Sena and its allies, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
Party insiders revealed that the Sena rejected requests from two local leaders and the MNS to back their candidate, signaling its determination to field a strong contender against Aaditya. This election has become a matter of prestige for the Sena, which aims to keep Aaditya occupied in Worli, limiting his ability to campaign for his party across the state.
