Mumbai: The opposition Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) took sharp digs at both the BJP and NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule after the BJP nominated businessman Arun Lakhani as its candidate for the upcoming legislative council elections from the Chandrapur-Wardha-Gadchiroli local bodies' constituency. Lakhani is the father-in-law of Sule's daughter Revati, as his son Sarang is set to marry Revati.
Sanjay Raut's Remarks
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut sarcastically suggested that Lakhani might be made the working president of NCP (SP) in the future. He demanded that NCP (SP) workers question Sule about the nomination. Raut added that there was nothing peculiar about Lakhani's candidacy, as he has always been a supporter of the RSS. "He (Lakhani) has been a member, and he is a gentleman who gives strength to the RSS in every way," Raut said. He noted that many lawmakers from Maharashtra in Parliament have roots in the RSS, and Lakhani is not from the Congress or NCP (SP) but from the list of people in Vidarbha who have backed the RSS from the very beginning.
Congress' Criticism
Congress leader Vijay Waddettiwar criticized the BJP, stating that the party always needs big businessmen while forgetting local workers. He demanded that the BJP reveal whether it had taken "instructions from the Pawars" before giving a ticket to "their in-law."
Lakhani's Response
Arun Lakhani responded by acknowledging that the Pawar family is big in politics, so their reference will always be there. However, he did not see any contradiction in being nominated by the BJP. "They (Pawars) work for their party, but naturally I will be addressed as their in-law," he said.
Election Context
Sixteen MLC seats from local self-government bodies in Maharashtra are going to the polls on June 18, along with one MLC bypoll. The nomination of Lakhani has added a political twist to the elections, with opposition parties using it to target both the BJP and the Pawar family.
