Eknath Shinde fields Milind Deora against Aaditya Thackeray in Worli

Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has fielded Milind Deora, who quit the Congress and joined the party earlier this year, against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray from Mumbai's Worli constituency.

In Short

• Milind Deora joined Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena camp after quitting Congress
• Deora fielded from Worli as Shiv Sena believes he can attract diverse voters
• Aaditya Thackeray is sitting MLA from Worli seat

Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction has fielded Milind Deora from Mumbai's Worli constituency against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray in the upcoming Assembly election.

Deora, who is a Rajya Sabha MP, quit the Congress and joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena earlier this year.

Notably, Aaditya Thackeray, the son of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, is the current MLA from Worli, having won the constituency in 2019. Deora had been given charge of the Worli constituency for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The Shinde-led Shiv Sena believes that Deora can hold sway in Worli and cater to middle-class Maharashtrians, fishermen and the affluent section who reside in the constituency, sources told India Today TV.

The Shiv Sena on Sunday announced its candidates for 20 seats. Besides Deora, Sanjay Nirupam has been fielded from Dindoshi seat.

BJP MP Narayan Rane’s son Nilesh Rane has been fielded from the Kudal constituency.

Shiv Sena has nominated former BJP leader Murji Patel for the Andheri East seat in Mumbai. The party also nominated former BJP leader Murji Patel for the Andheri East seat in Mumbai.

Meanwhile, the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), led by Raj Thackeray, has fielded Sandeep Deshpande from Worli and was hoping to get support from the Shiv Sena, sources said. However, Shinde wanted its own party's candidate against Aaditya Thackeray.

Elections for 288 Assembly seats in Maharashtra will be held in a single phase on November 20. The counting of votes will take place on November 23.