Lok Sabha Election Updates : In lieu of current BJP MP Poonam Mahajan, former special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam will run for the Lok Sabha from the Mumbai North Central seat. In the next election, Nikam will compete against Varsha Gaikwad of the Congress.
Poonam Mahajan is the daughter of former IT minister Pramod Mahajan, for those who are unaware.
Known for his long legal career, Ujjwal Nikam handled several high-profile cases, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the Gulshan Kumar murder case, the Pramod Mahajan murder case, and the 1993 Bombay bombings. In the 2013 Mumbai gang rape case, he further functioned as the special public prosecutor. As a reward for his services, Nikam received the Padma Shri in 2016.
In the last elections, the BJP had considered Ujjwal Nikam, a Jalgaon native, as a possible contender from the same seat.
Because incumbent Member of Parliament Poonam Mahajan’s ratings have been low in multiple polls, the BJP has decided not to put her up for reelection. Ashish Shelar, the leader of the Mumbai BJP, was also given consideration, but he turned down the chance to run. According to certain sources, Bollywood star Madhuri Dixit was reportedly approached about the position.
Poonam Mahajan defeated Congress candidate Priya Dutt to win the Mumbai North Central seat in the Lok Sabha elections of 2014 and 2019. From 2009 to 2014, Priya Dutt represented the constituency as an MP.
As to a report by news agency PTI, party leaders have stated that Poonam Mahajan’s removal was decided upon by considering input from the organization.
Although there had been hints for some time that Poonam Mahajan would be let go, the party took some time to find a replacement, according to people who spoke to PTI. On the other side, Varsha Gaikwad, a Mumbai North Central MLA from Dharavi, was put forth by the Congress as the head of its city unit.
Mumbai will hold voting in the Lok Sabha elections’ fifth phase on May 20. Eight more candidates have been announced by the BJP for the Odisha assembly polls, which will be held in conjunction with the general elections.