Congress and Shiv Sena UBT party workers and leaders are unwilling to give up their claim for the Versova Assembly constituency and are fighting tooth and nail to get it. But, workers of both these parties are on the same page when it comes to news reports of fielding former Mumbai police commissioner Sanjay Pandey from this Assembly constituency. Sena and Congress workers claim that Pandey has just joined the party and he should not be given preference over the loyalists who have been working on the ground for several years. Be it any candidate from either camp, it has to be someone who has given time and service to the party is the message from the ground cadre.

A Shiv Sena UBT party worker from the Versova Assembly constituency remarked, “Since we had the most party corporators in this area, our party should rightfully claim the seat. Although the Congress may also seek it, particularly with former Mumbai police commissioner Sanjay Pandey now part of their team. But we won’t back their claim. He’s new to the party and doesn’t have a local following.” Bharti Lavekar, the sitting MLA for the Versova Assembly constituency, has won the seat twice. There are rumours that she plans to run for a third term as a BJP-Mahayuti candidate.