BJP chooses Sommaiya ahead of Mahajan's daughter

The Central Election Committee meeting of the party held on Monday had failed to reach a consensus on the candidate for North-East Mumbai.

While BJP vice president Gopinath Munde favoured Mahajan, who is also his niece, the other camp led by Maharashtra unit chief Nitin Gadkari maintained that since Munde himself was in the fray from Beed, his camp had got its share, party sources said.

Gurudas Kamath of Congress is the sitting Member of Parliament from this constituency and will be in the fray against Sommaiyya.

However, some sources in BJP maintain that Mahajan may still get the party ticket from the delimited Mumbai North Central, represented by actor-turned-politician Sunil Dutt's daughter Priya.

Three other candidates were announced by the BJP on Tuesday. Laxman Swarnkar will contest from Koderma in Jharkhand. Former chief minister Babulal Marandi is likely to contest from Koderma. BJP had not announced its Koderma candidate as it was in talks with Marandi for a tie-up.

Jitendra Pratap Singh Bundela will contest from Khajuraho, a strong hold of firebrand leader Uma Bharti while Marut Rao Kapse will be in the fray from Chindwara, pocket borough of Union minister Kamal Nath.