BJP withdrew from Andheri Assembly bypoll contest only after realisation of imminent defeat: Uddhav faction

The Thackeray group has labelled the ruling BJP as ‘Kamalabai’, a reference to its poll symbol – Kamal or lotus

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction on Tuesday claimed BJP candidate Murji Patel withdrew from the Andheri East Assembly bypoll contest after realising that his defeat was imminent.

But even after this “safe passage” the BJP has suffered humiliation, the Thackeray camp claimed further in its mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

The front page of the Marathi daily carried an article on the bypoll with the heading "Kamlabai retreated from Andheri”.

The Thackeray group has labelled the ruling BJP as ‘Kamalabai’, a reference to its poll symbol – Kamal or lotus.

The Andheri East bypoll, scheduled on November 3, has been necessitated due to the death of Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke earlier this year.

The Thackeray-led Sena faction has fielded Ramesh Latke's wife Rutuja Latke, while the BJP had nominated Patel.

After Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray pitched for an unopposed contest, the BJP on Monday pulled out its candidate from the bypoll.