Narayan Rane Congress' 'imported' nominee for Bandra bypoll: Uddhav Thackeray

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena president Uddhav today termed Congress's nominee for the Bandra (East) Assembly byelection, Narayan Rane, an "imported candidate" and said that, unlike the rival party, his outfit had given the ticket to a local.

Addressing a rally here tonight for the bypoll slated for April 11, Uddhav said Rane and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad- ul Muslimeen's (MIM's) Siraj Khan were no competition for Sena.

"We have given a candidate who is from this area," Uddhav said while referring to party nominee Trupti Sawant, wife of sitting MLA Bala Sawant whose death necessitated the bypoll.

On AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi's statement daring him to visit Hyderabad, Uddhav said if the former has courage, he should ensure better livelihood for Muslims.

"The Owaisi brothers should understand that we treat our parents like God," he said in a reference to Akbaruddin's remarks that Uddhav had always been under his father Bal Thackeray's shadow.

Rane, a former minister in the Congress-NCP government, had lost last year's Assembly elections from his native Sindhudurg district. He is desperately trying to return to the Assembly, apparently to stay relevant in state politics.

Meanwhile, Uddhav alleged, without elaborating, that Congress has offered crores to Owaisi.

"We showed culture by not fielding candidate against the widow of RR Patil (NCP leader) in Tasgaon seat after the appeal made by Sharad Pawar, but NCP did not reciprocate and backed Congress in Bandra," added Uddhav.