Key Points

• Gajanan Kirtikar, the incumbent MP from Mumbai North West, has declared his intention to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
• Rebel leader Ramdas Step has proposed his daughter, Siddhesh Step, as the party’s candidate for the seat.
• The BJP’s internal meeting has failed to reach a consensus, leaving Chief Minister Eknath Shinde with a challenging decisi

Detailed Report

Kirtikar vs. Step: Battle for the Ticket
Gajanan Kirtikar, a senior Samajwadi Party leader from the Mumbai North West constituency, has announced his bid for re-election in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Confident of his ability to secure victory despite his age, Kirtikar has warned that he will vehemently oppose the party’s decision if denied the ticket.

On the other hand, Ramdas Step, a rebel leader, has advocated for his daughter, Siddhesh Step, to be fielded as the party’s candidate. He believes her youth and fresh perspective will resonate with voters and lead to electoral success.

The BJP’s internal meeting on the matter has yet to resolve the conflict, postponing a decision until its next session.

Kirtikar’s Stand on Family Candidacy
In a media interaction on Sunday, Kirtikar raised concerns about granting party tickets to multiple members of the same family, referencing Step’s son, Yogesh, who is already an MLA. He emphasized that he would strongly oppose any decision favouring Step’s daughter and hinted at contesting the elections as an independent candidate if necessary.

Despite this, Kirtikar urged the party to prioritize competence over familial ties when selecting a candidate.

Challenges for CM Eknath Shinde
The ongoing tensions between Kirtikar and Step present a significant challenge for Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, as both leaders belong to the same faction and are equally determined to secure the ticket. This delicate situation demands a carefully balanced decision.

Kirtikar’s Message: Age is Not a Barrier

Gajanan Kirtikar dismissed claims that age hinders one’s capabilities, expressing confidence in his experience and determination to win the upcoming elections. He cited his previous electoral success, where he secured victory with a margin of three lakh votes, and confidently projected surpassing this figure in 2024.

Speculations Around Kirtikar’s Son
Kirtikar’s son, Amol Kirtikar, has chosen to remain with Usha Thakur despite his father’s allegiance to Eknath Shinde. Speculations suggest that political strategist Prashant Kishor may propose Amol as the party’s candidate for the North West constituency.

Kirtikar clarified that he has not pressured Amol to join the Shinde faction but firmly stated that he would not tolerate his son contesting from the same seat. He requested that Amol avoid campaigning against him while pledging support for his son’s political ambitions in any other constituency.