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Poonam Mahajan won't contest LS poll, says Munde

March 31, 2009 16:39 IST
Poonam Mahajan, daughter of slain Bharatiya Jnata Party leader Pramod Mahajan, is not going to contest coming Lok Sabha polls, party general secretary Gopinath Munde said in Beed on Tuesday.

"There is no possibility of Poonam contesting the general elections after the party denied her ticket from North-East Mumbai constituency," Munde said after filing his nomination for LS poll in his native Beed district.

Asked if Poonam, whose late father's sister is Munde's wife, would be contesting from any other Mumbai constituency, Munde replied in the negative.

There were reports that Munde was upset after the party's denial of ticket to Poonam. He had then said that he would not be demanding anything for the Mahajan family from the party.

"Despite the denial of the ticket to Poonam, the Mahajan family would continue to work for the party and also participate in campaigning for the parliamentary elections," Munde said.

To a query on whether sitting Member of Parliament of Beed Jaisingrao Gaikwad, who earlier this month left Nationalist Congress Party and joined the Shiv Sena, would help his campaign, Munde said, "Gaikwad is my old friend and I am happy that he has joined our ally. He would definitely campaign for me."

"BJP Maharashtra president Nitin Gadkari would also be holding four to five rallies in the constituency," he added.

On his entry in national politics, Munde said I have been elected to the assembly five times and for the past two years I have been involved in national politics, due to which I am contesting the Lok Sabha poll.

Munde said he is going to campaign in all constituencies from where BJP candidates are seeking election in the state and also in Goa and Rajasthan.

"I would also hold rallies in all Mumbai constituencies and also for Sena candidates," Munde added.

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