NEW DELHI: The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction on Sunday announced Milind Deora, former Congress MP and now a Rajya Sabha member, as its candidate to challenge incumbent MLA Aaditya Thackeray of Shiv Sena (UBT) in Mumbai’s Worli constituency.
Deora had earlier hinted the same by stating on social media, “Justice for Worli and Worlikars is long overdue. Together, we’re paving the way forward… It’s Worli now!” The seat, traditionally a Shiv Sena stronghold, is now emerging as a focal point for the Mahayuti alliance’s strategy. Both the BJP and the Shinde Sena had expressed interest in contesting the high-profile seat, but the Mahayuti decided it would be fielded by a Sena candidate, ultimately settling on Deora.
Aaditya Thackeray, the first Thackeray family member to run for office in 2019, previously secured the Worli seat by defeating NCP’s Suresh Mane by a landslide margin. However, the recent 2024 Lok Sabha results saw Sena (UBT) candidate Arvind Sawant win with a much slimmer lead of just over 6,700 votes from this constituency, suggesting a potential shift in the political dynamics within Worli.
The contest in Worli will not be a straightforward one, as Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s (MNS) Sandeep Deshpande has also entered the race, making it a three-way battle akin to the neighbouring Mahim constituency, where Sena, Sena (UBT), and MNS candidates are all vying for dominance. Deora, son of late Congress leader Murli Deora, is a seasoned politician with two terms as Congress MP for Mumbai South and has been a prominent voice in Maharashtra politics. Deora joined the Shinde-led Sena faction earlier this year after resigning from Congress, a move which later saw him nominated to the Rajya Sabha.
In recent months, BJP spokesperson Shaina NC had been actively campaigning in the Worli constituency and had expressed interest in contesting from the seat on a Sena ticket. However, internal conflicts within the BJP reportedly led to the decision to pass the seat to a Shiv Sena candidate under the Mahayuti arrangement.
The upcoming elections are expected to be contentious, as both sides seek to capitalise on Worli’s recent development and Aaditya’s achievements over his three years in office. In an emotional letter to his constituency last year, Aaditya had hit out at rival parties for “indulging in dirty politics and betrayal,” accusing the Shinde faction of using underhanded tactics in their campaigns.
Full list of Shinde faction:
In addition to Deora’s candidacy in Worli, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) fielded other key candidates, including Sanjay Nirupam from the Dindoshi Assembly constituency and Nilesh N Rane from the Kudal Assembly constituency.
