In Marathi heartland Mahim, Senas bare fangs at each other

MUMBAI: The contest in Mahim constituency, both for Shiv Sena and MNS, is an emotive issue. It is from here that Sena grew into a political force. Sena’s headquarters are located here as is Shivaji Park, where Bal Thackeray used to deliver his fiery addresses.
Winning the seat in 2009 for his friend, MNS candidate Nitin Sardesai, was a matter of prestige for Raj Thackeray and winning the constituency’s all seven wards in the 2012 civic elections was the icing on the cake.Can the magic be repeated if the Modi wave holds sway like in the general elections?
In the Lok Sabha polls, where Sena and BJP were in alliance, Sena’s candidate Rahul Shewale had a lead of over 50,000 votes in the assembly segment. He won the Mumbai South Central parliamentary seat.
Still, victory for Sardesai will almost be certain if there is a tacit understanding between Sena and MNS. But is it possible? Sardesai categorically rules it out: “The seat may be an emotive issue for both MNS and Sena, but we are fighting tooth and nail.”
Sena’s candidate, Sadanand Sarvankar, speaks in the same vein, but is quick to add that it is for party chief Uddhav Thackeray to take a decision.
Of course, the going may get tough for Sarvankar as far as his own party’s supporters are concerned, as not all Sainiks are happy with his candidature. In 2009 he fought on a Congress ticket and came a close second while the Sena was a distant third.
BJP’s nominee is Vilas Ambekar, who feels his “clean image” will help bring in the votes. “I am in the reckoning too. The contest is not merely between Sena and MNS,” he said. ”I am the son of a mill worker and am not in politics to make money.”
Elaborating on his poll plank, Ambekar said, “I want to end the extortion that small shopkeepers in the constituency regularly face. I also want to ensure that housing societies get permissions for redevelopment, permissions that have been stalled.”
Congress’s candidate Pravin Naik is resting his hopes on slum pockets, mainly in Prabhadevi. “Rozi, roti aur makaan (job, food, house) is my election mantra,” said the architect, who works closely with Siddhivinayak Temple.
Sardesai is confident that the work he has done in the last five years will stand him in good stead. “People say they want me as their MLA when I meet them,” he said, adding that Sarvankar was not around for three years. Quick to retort, Sarvankar said Sardesai is visible only on hoardings.