Maharashtra Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray during the Sabha rally. File photo/Satej Shinde
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The Shiv Sena (UBT) has decided to contest 25 of the 36 Assembly seats in Mumbai. In the 2019 Assembly elections, the united Shiv Sena contested in 19 constituencies and won 14. On Wednesday, UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray met party leaders. During the meeting, they discussed the Assembly elections and the current situation in each constituency. The party has decided to contest 25 Assembly seats in the city.
Former mayor and UBT spokesperson Kishori Pednekar confirmed the move. “Women and youth will get more opportunities in this election,” she said.
“In the recent Lok Sabha elections, we received tremendous support from voters in the city. We are now ready to contest 25 seats,” she added.
In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the UBT won three of the four seats it contested.
Meanwhile, sources claim that UBT will win in the Bandra East constituency currently held by Congress leader Zeeshan Siddiqui who won the 2019 elections. UBT has decided to contest seven of the 10 assembly seats in Mumbai Municipal Corporation. In the Eastern Suburbs, UBT will contest six of the 10 seats. In the Western Suburbs, UBT has decided to contest 12 of the 17 seats.
The Congress Party in Mumbai has also drawn up a list of constituencies in which the party can contest the state elections. Sources said the party has decided to contest 16-17 seats in Mumbai. In the 2019 elections, the Congress Party contested 14 seats and won in four constituencies.
36
Total Assembly seats in Mumbai
Thackeray Sena allows donations to be accepted
The Election Commission of India has allowed the Shiv Sena (UBT) to accept voluntary donations of any amount from individuals or companies other than government-run companies.
The Sena had earlier this month requested the ECI to issue a notice/certificate recording the purpose of accepting voluntary donations. The provisional approval was given on Thursday. On July 8, the commission had given a similar order to the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar). In the case of the Sena, the order was given within a few days, while in the case of the Nationalist Congress Party, it took more than three months.
The ECI has given the Sena (UBT) provisional permission to accept donations. “The permission is for the period of validity of and subject to the final order of the Supreme Court in Case No. 3997 of SLP (C) of 2023,” the order said, adding that the party will have to submit a report to the commission for donations received exceeding Rs 20,000 crore during a financial year.
