Chembur is set for a triangular battle. Nikhalje faces sitting MLA Pramod Shirwalkar of the BJP and Chandrakanth Handore, the Congress candidate.
Since both Nikhalje and Handore are wooing Dalits, Shirwalkar is expected to benefit from a split in the Opposition vote.
Nikhalje is under pressure to withdraw from the contest since the seat was allotted to the Congress after it entered into an alliance with the RPI.
But he won't budge.
He keeps track of assorted newspaper articles published every day and clarifies: "In Chembur, there is no alliance between the Congress and the RPI. I speak with (RPI leader and the member of Parliament from Pandarpur Ramdas) Athawaleji almost every day. The party has given me full-support. The rest is rumour."
The Sunday newspapers reported how his supporters allegedly hurled stones at Handore's poll party, injuring Mrs Handore. "They were not my supporters. I suspect some groups, dissatisfied with Handore for non-performance, were expressing their anger."
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