Andheri East bypoll: Voters being paid to choose NOTA, alleges Uddhav-led Shiv Sena

Anil Parab. File Pic

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena camp alleged that voters were being paid to choose None Of The Above (NOTA) option in the November 3 Andheri East Assembly byelection in Mumbai. The party has raised this issue with the Election Commission as well as the police, said its senior leader Anil Parab, reported the PTI.

The campaigning for the byelection came to an end at 5 pm.

The election will have ramifications in the coming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election too as for the first time it will see the combined strength of Maha Vikas Aghadi allies (Thackeray-led Sena, NCP and Congress), Parab said, as per the PTI.

"Some people are being paid money to choose NOTA," the former Maharashtra minister alleged. His party has video clips showing purported workers of a party indulging in such acts, he said.

Also Read: Maharashtra govt to bring white paper on mega projects going to other states

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena faction has fielded Rutuja Latke, the wife of incumbent Sena MLA Ramesh Latke whose death necessitated the election.

The BJP fielded Murji Patel, but he later withdrew his candidature after the party decided not to contest.

On the one hand, the BJP withdrew its candidate saying it respects the tradition of not fielding a candidate against family members of deceased lawmakers. On the other hand, people are being asked to cast their vote for NOTA, Parab said.

He exuded confidence that Latke will bag 98-99 per cent of votes and said she will complete the works which remained incomplete due to her husband's death.

The constituency has issues like connectivity to the eastern and western suburbs as it is a major commercial centre, Parab said, adding that several Slum Rehabilitation Authority projects in the area are pending.

(with PTI inputs)