Manohar Joshi reaches out to Uddhav Thackeray, wants to contest Lok Sabha from South Central Mumbai

MUMBAI: Two weeks after he was booed out from the stage at Shiv Sena's rally at the Shivaji Park, former speaker of the Lok Sabha Manohar Joshi reached out to Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday in an attempt to patch up with the Sena leadership. Joshi described his visit to Uddhav's residence "Matoshree" as a goodwill gesture on the occasion of diwali.

Manohar Joshi's anti-leadership public comments just before the Shivaji Park rally led to wide resentment among Shiv Sena activists which resulted in Joshi being booed out from the stage at the party's traditional Dusshera rally. It was also seen as an indication from the party leadership that Joshi was being sidelined and may not be given party candidature in the Lok Sabha polls from any constituency in Mumbai city or suburbs.

"I had gone to meet Uddhav today to wish him for diwali. I want to discuss many things with him. I have asked for an appointment", Joshi told reporters outside Uddhav's residence. Sources in the Sena said Manohar Joshi is very keen on getting Shiv Sena candidature from the South Central Mumbai constituency for Lok Sabha and he mentioned this to Uddhav Thackeray in his brief discussion. A senior Sena leader said to ET, "Joshi has told Uddhav that he wants to fight from South Central, but if that is not possible, he is also willing to accept a seat in Thane".

Ramdas Athawale, the President of Republican Party of India also had a brief meeting with Uddhav on Sunday afternoon. Athawale's party has announced that it will join hands with the Shiv Sena and BJP to fight 48 seats of Lok Sabha in Maharashtra provided he gets a Rajya Sabha nomination in February from the Shiv Sena's or BJP's quota and candidature in 2 to 3 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.

On the backdrop of these developments, an important meeting took place at Ramdas Athawale's residence where Rahul Shewale, the Chairman of Shiv Sena ruled Mumbai Municipal Corporation's standing committee, held talks with Athawale and his associates. Sources in the Sena said that it is almost certain that Rahul Shewale will be give Sena candidature from south central Mumbai for Lok Sabha. Shewale met Athawale to ask for his support in the south central Mumbai constituency where there is a large number of dalit voters.