Uddhav Thackeray's candidate to file nomination for Andheri East bye-election on October 14

The winning party will have a psychological boost ahead of the BMC election

Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray party’s nominee Rutuja Latke, wife of late Sena MLA Ramesh Latke, will file the nomination papers for the Andheri (East) Assembly bye-election on October 14.

Former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackery, his son and Worli MLA Aaditya Thackeray, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Nana Patole, and other key leaders of Maha Vikas Aghadi would accompany Ms. Latke in submitting the nomination.

Also read | Election Commission allots ‘two swords, shield’ symbol to Shinde faction of Shiv Sena

Both, the Congress party and Nationalist Congress Party have extended their support to Ms. Latke, making it a contest between the Maha Vikas Aghadi and the ruling Eknath Shinde-BJP alliance.

“There is no second thought. Symbol or party name doesn’t matter for us as we are the real Shiv Sena and our candidate will have a landslide victory,” said Uddhav loyalist and Member of Parliament (Mumbai North-West) Gajanan Kirtikar told The Hindu.

The poll-bound Andheri (East) Assembly segment falls under Mr. Kirtikar's parliamentary constituency and the byelection was necessitated due to the sudden death of Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke.

According to Mr. Kirtikar, they have to ‘tolerate’ the Election Commission of India’s decision to use an alternate name and symbol allotted on Monday instead of ‘Shiv Sena’ and its symbol ‘bow and arrow’.