Earlier, Shiv Sena's Thane Lok Sabha seat candidate Naresh Mhaske had on Wednesday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and CM Shinde for choosing him to contest from the prestigious constituency

After his candidature was announced, Mhaske had also visited the Anand Ashram, the residence of Shiv Sena stalwart the late Anand Dighe, and his memorial in Thane city and paid rich tributes to him

The former mayor of Thane, the political turf of Shinde, also called on MNS president Raj Thackeray and sought his blessings

Talking to the media, Mhaske thanked PM Modi and Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena, for fielding him from the Thane Lok Sabha seat

The CM Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and the BJP are part of the ruling 'Mahayuti' alliance

Mhaske will take on sitting Lok Sabha MP Rajan Vichare of the Shiv Sena (UBT), whose candidature was announced long back