Even as just 20 days are left for the prestigious Andheri East Assembly by-election, the two contenders—the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and the BJP—are yet to start their official campaigns. Instead, both parties are focussing on personal meetings with influential groups. The work on the campaign agenda and formation of executive teams are on in full swing for both groups.

The by-election for this Assembly seat, which was rendered vacant after the death of MLA Ramesh Latke, has become a prestige issue as this is the first election after the Sena split.