Davkhare wins unopposed MLC seat with Sena help

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Senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Vasant Davkhare was elected unopposed to the legislative council thanks to the Shiv Sena. Mr Davkhare wanted to win unopposed and for that, he met Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray at his residence on Thursday. After the meeting, Mr Thackeray asked his candidates to withdraw from the election.
Mr Davkhare has been an MLC since 1992 and its deputy chairman since 1998. His third term in the House will end on June 8. His election on Friday means he will be a member of the legislative council for another six years.
According to sources, Mr Davkhare went to “Matoshree” and requested Mr Thackeray to give him an opportunity to win the election from the Thane constituency unopposed. Mr Thackeray did not promise anything to Mr Davkhare immediately, but on Friday he asked his party’s candidates to withdraw.
Shiv Sena had nominated Kalyan mayor Ramesh Jadhav as its official candidate. Mr Vilas Joshi from Shiv Sena had also filed his nomination in case Mr Jadhav’s nomination got rejected for any reason. However, both of them withdrew nominations in the presence of Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde.
After his election, Mr Davkhare thanked everyone who helped him. NCP spokesperson Madan Bafna also thanked “other parties” who helped Mr Davkhare’s unopposed election.
“It is a good sign for democracy that Mr Davkhare, who is the deputy chairman of the legislative council, was elected unopposed. After a splendid success in Navi Mumbai Municipal Corportion, Mr Davkhare’s election will also increase the morale of NCP workers from Thane district,” Mr Bafna said.
“Mr Davkhare would have easily won the election had there been one. The Congress, NCP and other allies have a majority in local bodies of the Thane district. Mr Davkhare also had support from other parties because of his personal relations. Therefore, the election would have been one-sided. But we are happy,” the NCP spokesperson added.