11 October,2009 10:45 AM IST | | PTI
The Vile Parle constituency in suburban Mumbai is witnessing an unusual campaign for October 13 polls -- a father-in-law canvassing against son-in-law.
Former Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Prabhu is actively campaigning against Congress candidate Krishna Hegde, married to his daughter Leena.
Elected to the Assembly in 1990, Prabhu was disqualified by the Supreme Court because Sena supremo Bal Thackeray had sought votes on the basis of Hindutva.
This was the same case where Thackeray was disenfranchised by the Election Commission for a few years. Prabhu, who contested the 2004 polls as an Independent, is going around his old constituency, seeking votes for the candidate of the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
"I am with MNS. He (Hegde) may be my son-in-law but these things don't matter when it comes to elections," Prabhu said.
The Vile Parle constituency which has seen major changes after delimitation, is witnessing a triangular fight. Hegde is pitted against former Shiv Sena MLA Vinayak Raut and MNS leader Shirish Parkar who unsuccessfully fought the last Lok Sabha polls.
Around 55 per cent voters are Marathis and 25 per cent Gujaratis and the segment also has a sizeable Muslim population.
Rehabilitation of slumdwellers, who have to make way for the airport's expansion and new hotels, is a major poll plank for all candidates contesting for the seat.
In keeping with MNS's anti-north Indian agenda, Parkar blamed encroachments on footpaths to vendors, most of whom he said, came from outside the state.
Hegde was associated with actor-MP Sunil Dutt as media manager for his 2004 election campaign. He continued in the same capacity for Dutt's MP daughter Priya.
