Maharashtra assembly elections: Palghar MLA Srinivas Vanga goes missing after being denied ticket

MUMBAI: Palghar's incumbent MLA Shrinivas Vanga, of the Shiv Sena (Shinde), who was denied a ticket for the 2024 assembly elections, has gone missing from his Talasari home from Monday evening. The ticket was on Sunday given to former MP Rajendra Gavit, who moved from the BJP to the Shinde Sena to contest the polls.
Heavy police have been deployed outside his house. Nakabandi is being carried out to find Vanga, the son of BJP's late MP from Palghar Chintaman Vanga. On Monday, Vanga (42) broke down in tears, admitting that leaving Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) was a mistake.
He expressed remorse for leaving the UBT and accused chief minister Eknath Shinde of not fulfilling his commitment to protect loyal members. Vanga was reportedly at the forefront of arranging the rebels' move to Surat in June 2022.
According to his wife Suman, Vanga was unreachable from 7 pm on Monday. His two cell phones have been switched off since then. Suman said that her husband left with a bag and he is believed to have carried a few clothes. CM Shinde on Tuesday morning spoke to Suman over the telephone. She told Shinde that her husband was depressed about being denied the ticket. She told the CM that Vanga had locked himself in his room and was crying like a baby.
On Tuesday morning, Vasai-Virar UBT leader Pankaj Deshmukh visited Vanga's Talasari home. He spoke to Suman and said that Uddhav Thackeray was moved after watching Vanga cry on television. Vanga apologised to Thackeray for leaving the party.
Police officials said that a search has been launched for Vanga. All the probable places where he is likely to visit are being searched. Vanga was keen on meeting Thackeray to apologise.
In the 2018 Lok Sabha bypoll, necessitated by the death of his father, Vanga had hoped to contest but was asked to make way for Gavit, who won the seat in 2018 and 2019. As compensation, Vanga was given an MLA ticket by the undivided Sena from Palghar. After Gavit was denied the ticket in the May Lok Sabha elections, he was also promised a place in state politics. On Sunday, after Gavit was given the Palghar assembly ticket, Vanga claimed that he had been assured an MLC seat. Gavit, who had returned to the BJP in May, rejoined the Sena to fight the Palghar seat.
On Monday, Vanga credited Uddhav Thackeray for his victory in the 2019 elections and reiterated that leaving UBT was a mistake. He alleged that the Shinde Sena does not want people who do genuine work.