20 May,2018 03:53 PM IST | Thane | Mid-day online desk
Devendra Fadnavis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said that he had told Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray that the BJP was planning to give a ticket to a member of Chintaman Wanga's family for the by-election.
Despite this, the Sena went ahead and fielded Shriniwas Wanga for the May 28 by-election to the Palghar Lok Sabha constituency, Fadnavis said, speaking at a campaign rally at Kasa on Sunday. In a jolt to its ally BJP, the Sena fielded Shriniwas Wanga for the ensuing by-election after his father and BJP MP from neighbouring Palghar, Chintaman Wanga, died. The BJP was always ready to give the ticket to a member of the Wanga family, Fadnavis said.
"I had also discussed this with Uddhav and wanted the by-election to be unopposed. He asked me to speak to (state minister and Sena leader) Subhash Desai," he said.
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However, suddenly the Sena announced Shriniwas Wanga's candidature, the chief minister said. The BJP has fielded Rajendra Gavit in the by-election. Gavit was the right successor to Chintaman Wanga, Fadnavis said.
"I fact we had planned to give him a ticket in 2019 elections, but no one ever imagined that this by-election would happen," he said.
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