Maharashtra: Rutuja Latke moves HC over 'delay' by BMC in accepting resignation

The Uddhav Thackeray faction on Wednesday alleged its candidate for Andheri East Assembly seat bypoll Rutuja Latke was being pressured by the group led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to contest on their ticketThe Thackeray faction now called as Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray party also alleged political pressure on the Mumbai civic body to delay the resignation of Latke as its employee to scuttle her candidature for the November 3 bypollBrihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC commissioner I S Chahal denied any political pressureBreaking her silence Latke said she had not met CM Shinde and maintained she will contest on the Thackeray factions mashaal symbolLatke has moved the Bombay High Court seeking a direction to the Mumbai civic body to accept her resignation She claimed the delay by the Mumbai civic body appears deliberate to prevent her from contestingAlso read Fake affidavits in support of Uddhav faction CM loyalist seeks probe by CBI or Maha CIDAs per the Election Commissions rules Latke cannot file the nomination papers until her resignation is accepted as she cannot hold an office of profit from the government The last date for filing the nomination papers is October 14Denying the allegations of political pressure Chahal said the application for resignation is in progressHe said Latke had submitted her resignation application on October 3 evening Rules permit the BMC to decide about the application in 30 days he told PTI in a text messageEarlier in the day former minister and Uddhav Thackeray loyalist Anil Parab claimed Latkes resignation as an administrative officer in the K ward of the civic body was not being accepted to force her to contest as the Shinde groups candidateThe Andheri East seat belonged to the Shiv Sena We will contest and win You will know our next course of action if Rutuja Latke is unable to contest he saidShe resigned on September 2 but was told recently that her letter was not in a proper format She has given a fresh resignation letter which is yet to be accepted Parab claimedWhen reporters asked Latke if she was under pressure she said Do I look soLike my late husband my loyalty is with Uddhav Thackeray she told reporters outside the BMC commissioners officeIn her petition Latke also requested the HC to allow her to file the nomination for the bypoll necessitated by the death of her husband and sitting MLA Ramesh LatkeThe delay on the part of the respondents BMC in issuing a lettercertificateorder appears to be deliberate to prevent the petitioner from contesting the byelection it addedChahal denied the allegation of political pressure levelled by the Thackerayled factionParab had alleged that the BMC commissioner was not giving reasons why Latkes resignation was not being acceptedEarlier in the day Latke and former city mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar had gone to meet ChahalMahadewshwar said Latke had submitted her resignation on October 3 and also deposited the money one months salary but the civic administration is not accepting the resignationHe said entire Maharashtra knows who is pressuring the civic bodyAccording to civic officials Latke had submitted her first resignation on September 2 with a condition that it should not be accepted until the results of the bypoll were declaredThe application was rejected and she was informed on September 29 they said adding that Latke filed a fresh application on October 3Officials also said rules allow them to process the application in 30 days and the process includes getting no objection from various departments to crosscheck if any inquiry is pending against the applicant or any duesMaharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said the government has no role in the alleged delay by the Mumbai civic body in accepting the resignation of LatkeThis is the first bypoll the splintered Shiv Sena led by Thackeray will contest on its new symbol the Mashaal flaming torchThe Congress and NCP have pledged support to the Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray party making Rutuja Latka the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA candidateThe BJP is likely to field Murji PatelThe stand of the Shinde faction now called Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena on contesting the bypoll is not clear yetThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever