The ex-Shiv Sena MLA Trupti Sawant joined BJP earlier in April. Trupti Sawant announced that she will contest as an independent candidate. Sawant was expelled from the party and wasn't given a ticket for the 2019 elections because of that. It is also said that the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhave Thackeray has asked her to withdraw her nomination to which she did not agree. Sawant said in a statement, "I have the sympathy of the voters. Even today, people respect us like the time when Saheb (late Bala Sawant) was there… I will fight for Bala Saheb… there are attempts to destroy his legacy."