More is pitted against formidable Mumbai Congress President Kripa Shankar Singh and BJP’s Dinanath Tiwari. Jadhav, a household name amongst Marathi theatre lovers, has acted in scores of plays and films.
Some of his well-known films include Jatra with Shreyas Talpade, Bharat Ala Parat, Mumbaicha Dabawala and Mukkam Post London. Sahi Re Sahi and Damodar Pant are his famous stage shows.
The actor, who is a cardholder of the MNS, has so far addressed nearly a dozen meetings in support of party candidates in Mumbai. Jadhav said people who have the time and inclination to serve the public should contest elections otherwise their fate would be like actor-turned-former Congress-MP Govinda.
On Marathi TV actor Aadesh Bandekar, Shiv Sena candidate from Mahim in Mumbai, Jadhav said he won’t campaign for the fellow actor. “I am not going to canvass for Aadesh, though we belong to the same fraternity. I am an MNS member and he is my rival,” he later told PTI.
He said there are many artistes from the film and theatre fraternity who whole-heartedly support the MNS and would vote for the party, but declined to divulge their names. Close watchers of the election feel that More may eat into a large chunk of traditional Shiv Sena votes, thereby denting Tiwari’s chances.
Besides, north Indians residing in the constituency are expected to throw their weight behind Singh, which is likely to further impair Tiwari’s electoral prospects.
In this triangular contest, Congress’ Singh holds the edge, as he appears set to benefit from the Sena-MNS fight.
