Manohar Joshi may face Shabana

The Congress-Nationalist Congress Party combine has asked Shabana Azmi, film actress and nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, to contest Lok Sabha elections from the Mumbai (north-central) constituency against Speaker of the 13th Lok Sabha Manohar Gajanan Joshi (Shiv Sena).

The seat falls in 26 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra allotted the Congress as part of the pre-poll arrangement with the NCP. The NCP will contest 18 of the remaining seats, while friendly allies will contest four other seats.

When contacted, Azmi told Business Standard: "I have not taken a decision yet. I do not want to say anything at the moment. You will come to know in two-three days."

Joshi had contested successfully from the Mumbai (north-central) constituency in 1999, securing 294,935 votes, 55.83 per cent of total votes cast in the constituency. He was trailed by Raja Dhale of the Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM), who secured 23.84 per cent of the votes.

The NCP, the Congress and other parties opposed to the Shiv Sena-BJP combine had agreed on Azmi's candidature as a consensus candidate, sources said. She is most likely to contest as an independent candidate with the backing of these parties.

The Mumbai (north-central) constituency boasts of a large minority population and Azmi has done lots of works in slum pockets here. She also has a standing among the vast network of non-governmental organisations.

The recently commissioned Chandivali housing project for rehabilitating slumdwellers relocated from the forest land areas of the Borivali National Park in north Mumbai is a result of Azmi's efforts.