Mumbai, Jan 1 (IANS) The Republican Left Democratic Front has fielded Farhan Azmi, son of Samajwadi Party (SP) Maharashtra unit president Abu Asim Azmi as its candidate for the assembly by-election from Bhivandi town in neighbouring Thane district, an
office-bearer said Friday.

Accompanied by several thousand supporters, Farhan marched from the Samajwadi Party office to the election office Friday afternoon to file his nomination papers.

The Bhivandi East assembly seat was earlier contested and won by his father. Bhivandi is a Muslim-dominated town in Thane district where the main source of livelihood is the powerloom industry.

Abu Azmi had also contested from Mankhurd constituency in north-east Mumbai and opted to retain that seat and gave up Bhivandi East in favour of his son.

Farhan, a hotelier running the famed Koyla Restaurant in south Mumbai, is part of Mumbai’s socialite circle and is married to Bollywood actress Ayesha Takia.

The by-election is scheduled to be held Jan 20 and other major parties are expected to announce their candidates soon.