CM Shinde proceeded to file his nomination after after paying tribute to his political mentor late Anand Dighe and leading a roadshow

Eknath Shinde will face off against Shiv Sena (UBT) nominee Kedar Dighe, the nephew of Anand Dighe, from his home turf

Shinde paid tribute to the late Dighe at Anand Ashram and performed aarti. He boarded a decorated vehicle modelled as a chariot, joined by hundreds of supporters who waved Sena flags and carried huge posters of the chief minister

The rally commenced from Dutt Mandir at Modella Check Naka, passing through the main streets of Thane. It took approximately two hours to reach the ITI centre where Shinde submitted his nomination papers shortly after 1.30 p.m

Before filing his nomination papers, Shinde also sought blessings from Yogiraj Maharaj Goswami of sant Eknath Maharaj's dynasty

Shinde has remained undefeated in the Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency since 2009 as Shiv Sena (undivided) candidate. In the 2019 polls, he defeated Sanjay Ghadigaonkar of Congress by over 89,000 votes. In the last assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena 56, and the Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP secured 122 seats, the Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42