Sena (UBT) sticks to sitting MLA Latke in do-or-die battle

ANDHERI EAST | Shinde faction places wager on ex-corporator Murji Patel

- Megha Kuchik

Andheri East assembly segment number 166, which is located in Mumbai's suburban district, is a part of the Mumbai North West Lok Sabha constituency. It will be a keen contest for two factors; first, it's Sena vs Sena battle and second the rival candidates come from the Marathi and Gujarati communities, who have a sizable presence in the neighbourhood.

While Sena (UBT) has again fielded sitting MLA Rutuja Latke, 47, the Shinde faction has placed its bet on Murji Patel, 52. The latter is a controversial defector from the BJP. Members of several Slum Rehabilitation Authority projects in the MIDC area of Andheri East have complained against him to the police. Owing to the alleged inaction, they have even moved the Bombay High Court.

With approximately 2.84 lakh voters, Andheri East encompasses residential, industrial and commercial zones, including Gundavali, Marol, MIDC, Military Road, Pump House, Church Road, Mlpa Dongri, Upadhye Nagar, Sat Baigh and Filterpada areas. This is a cosmopolitan constituency, given its diverse populace which includes affluent as well as lower-income groups.