Bandra bypoll: Narayan Rane to file nomination papers tomorrow

MUMBAI: Senior Congress leader Narayan Rane will tomorrow file his nomination papers for the by-election to Bandra East Assembly constituency slated for April 11.

Rane will take on Trupti Sawant of Shiv Sena, wife of sitting MLA Bala Sawant whose death necessitated the bypoll.

Rane will file his papers tomorrow, Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam told PTI.

Meanwhile, Rane, whose candidature was announced yesterday, visited the office of Mumbai Congress and held talks with the party workers and office-bearers.

The Konkan strongman, who had served as a cabinet minister in the erstwhile Congress-NCP government, told reporters that he had come to congratulate Nirupam who took over as the city unit chief earlier this month.

"The by-election is a good opportunity to give Nirupam a headstart as we will contest under his leadership," Rane said.

Nirupam said the entire city unit would unitedly work for Rane's victory. Interestingly, Rane had expressed his displeasure over Nirupam's appointment as he felt a Maharashtrian face was necessary to head the city unit.

Nirupam said a meeting of party workers from the constituency will be held on Wednesday as part of the preparations for the election campaign.

The bypoll has become a high-profile contest as Rane, a former shiv sainik and chief minister during NDA rule in 1995, will take on Sena in the constituency which houses the residence of party chief Uddhav Thackeray.

While BJP has reportedly decided against fielding any candidate, the NCP too has indicated the same.

Interestingly, Rane called on NCP chief Sharad Pawar at his residence yesterday and sought support of his party in the contest.

In October last year, Bala Sawant of Shiv Sena defeated BJP's Mahesh Parkar by 15,000 votes to win the seat.