Manoj Kishorbhai Kotak, former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporator from Mulund West, has been named by the BJP and Shiv Sena alliance to contest from Mumbai North-East Lok Sabha constituency in the 2019 national election which will be held on April 29 in the city.
After the sitting BJP MP Kirit Somaiya was denied ticket to contest LS poll from Mumbai North-East seat, the party, in a huge jump, fielded Kotak to contest the national election.
Earlier, there were speculations that BJP refused candidature to Somaiya due to the pressure from its allies in Maharashtra – Shiv Sena.
Shiv Sena had earlier said that if Somaiya is given a ticket, the party will work against him. However, BJP star campaigner Shahnawaz Hussain clarified that the decision on candidature is taken by the party itself.
Currently, BJP corporator Manoj Kotak is the group leader in Mumbai civic body. Kotak has also served as the President of Education Committee and Improvement Committee in BMC.
In the year 2014, Kotak contested from Bhandup assembly constituency but was defeated. As per the affidavit filed, Kotak is only a 10th pass.
Manoj Kotak originally hails from Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh and his hold is strong in areas dominated by Gujaratis and Rajasthanis in Mumbai. Along with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Kotak shares good relations with Kirit Somaiya too. According to sources in the party, Kotak falls into the lobby of CM Fadnavis.
Share
Tweet
