Main MLA banna chahta hoon

Party sources and vernacular paper suggest MP Kirit Somaiya and wife want ticket for Assembly elections, but he denies it

Main MLA banna chahta hoon

Party sources and vernacular paper suggest MP Kirit Somaiya and wife want ticket for Assembly elections, but he denies it

We've heard of ambitious MLAs who dream of representing their party in Parliament. But former MP Kirit Somaiya seems to have other ambitions.

According to party sources and a report in Middle Class, a Hindi newspaper in Mulund, the one-time MP surprisingly wants to contest the Assembly elections in October.

According to BJP party workers, Somaiya will be happy even if his wife Medha gets the ticket.

"Several party workers keep mentioning Kirit and Medha Somaiya's names as possible candidates. But nothing has been finalised as yet.

We've just started preparing for the elections. The names will be decided after we reach an agreement with our alliance partners," explained Shetty.

Candidates on merit

Somaiya, however, refuted the claims and said he hasn't decided about contesting the election. But the BJP leader said there is every possibility that Sardar Tara Singh, the sitting MLA from Mulund, may not get a seat this time.

"We analysed our defeat in the general elections this year and have decided to select candidates purely on merit.
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He need not be a big political face, but should be qualified to take on the job. If Medha wants to contest the elections, she can. But she won't get a ticket because she is my wife. She has her own identity," said Somaiya.

Medha is not a known political face, but her association with Yuva Pratisthan, an NGO run by the Somaiyas, has made her popular.

According to party sources, Medha had openly voiced her anger against some MLAs of the eastern suburbs who had allegedly signed and distributed pamphlets urging people to vote for NCP's Sanjay Patil, Somaiya's opponent in the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Tara Singh denied the allegations, saying, "I am a true soldier of the party and I will go by whatever decision the BJP takes."

Kirit's Loss

Kirit Somaiya lost this year's Lok Sabha elections from Mumbai north East by 2,933 votes.

Although it was NCP candidate Sanjay Dina Patil who defeated Somaiya, the MNS played spoilsport by securing 1.95 lakh votes. Somaiya became an MP in 1999.

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