Gangster-turned-politican Arun Gawli, who has been arrested in connection with a murder and extortion case, will contest the coming Lok Sabha elections from South Mumbai [Images] constituency.

Gawli will be the lone Akhil Bharitya Sena candidate to contest from the financial capital, Geeta Gawli, ABS corporator and Gawli's daughter told PTI.

After the delimitation, Gawli's Chinchpokli constituency from where he got elected to the state legislature in 2004, falls under the South Mumbai constituency, where he has a good hold in the constituency, Geeta said.

Earlier, it was reported that the ABS was merged with Mayawati's [Images] Bahujan Samaj Party, but with the announcement of Haji Mohammed Shaikh Ali's candidature from the South Mumbai constituency without consulting Gawli, is believed to be one of the main reason for severing ties with Mayawati.

Currently, Gawli who is lodged at Arthur Road jail in central Mumbai, is an MLA from Chinchpokli.

Gawli was arrested last year by the crime branch in connection with the Shiv Sena [Images] corporator Kamlakar Jamsandiker murder case and an extortion case.