Relief For BJP In Maharashtra Elections: Former MP Gopal Shetty Withdraws Independent Nomination From Mumbai's Borivali

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former MP Gopal Shetty has agreed to withdraw his nomination as a rebel candidate for the Borivali seat in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections.

Shetty had submitted his papers last week after the BJP awarded the ticket to Sanjay Upadhyay instead. He was hoping for a ticket in the assembly elections after a denial in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Shetty was not renominated for his Mumbai North constituency, with the BJP instead selecting Union minister Piyush Goyal. Then, the party chose Upadhyay for the Borivali seat, also passing over sitting MLA Sunil Rane.

A BJP national general secretary stated on Monday, "Gopal Shetty is a senior leader who is committed to the party organisation. He has given the assurance he will not do anything that would harm the party."

Shetty is also reported to have assured Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that he would not run in the election. It is believed that he withdrew the nomination after discussions with BJP leaders.

State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule commented earlier, "We are speaking to each and every rebel. We are confident they will withdraw their nomination." The deadline for withdrawals is 3 pm on Monday.