Maharashtra polls: Sena fields a Muslim candidate

The Shiv Sena has fielded a Muslim candidate in Mumbai for the upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra.

Shahid Reja Beg is contesting the assembly elections from the Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar constituency.

Beg is pitted against Abu Asim Azmi and Sayad Ahmed of the Samajwadi Party and the Congress respectively.

"Shiv Sena is a party which can solve the problems of the people. It is not associated with a religion or caste. It is a party that works for the people. It is the other parties, which try to give a bad name to Shiv Sena," said Beg.

Shiv Sena has been known to propagate Hindu beliefs. Therefore, the move to field a Muslim candidate is being seen as a change in the party's core political belief.

"For years, people have been labelling Shiv Sena as a religious outfit. So to prove them wrong, Shiv Sena has fielded a Muslim candidate," said Mahadev Ramrao Ambrekar, a Shiv Sena worker.

Beg's candidature has received widespread support from the people, he added.