Former Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam joins Shinde Sena, to contest from Mumbai North West

MUMBAI: Former MP and Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam, who was expelled from the party, claimed that he would contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Mumbai North West seat and win. He is expected to join the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena either tomorrow or day after.

Nirupam was sacked from the Congress, after he used coarse language against Udhav Thackeray for announcing a candidate from the seat which he was eying.

Speaking to media persons, he had also clarified that he would not contest independently but under a party symbol, meaning the ruling ‘Mahayuti’ alliance headed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Nirupam, who was interested in contesting from the Mumbai North West Lok Sabha constituency, was miffed with the Congress for handing over the seat to the Shiv Sena (UBT).

In the Mahayuti (BJP group) seat-sharing deal, the Mumbai North West seat has been allocated to the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde), and for Nirupam to get the ticket from North West, he has to join the Shinde Sena.

The Shiv Sena, under Shinde’s leadership, is still scouting for a suitable candidate for this seat, as MVA ally Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena has already nominated Amol Kirtikar.

The Mumbai North West constituency boasts a significant Marathi voter base, while Nirupam represents a prominent North Indian face with reasonable popularity in the locality.