The sitting Member of Parliament from Mumbai South Central, Rahul Shewale, is being portrayed as a ‘smart MP’ by the Shiv Sena and its allies. But his opponent from the Congress, Eknath Gaikwad, says, though Shewale may be smart, he has failed to make Mumbai a smart city. Gaikwad spoke to Narsi Benwal and Amit Pareek of the Free Press Journal on issues ranging from the failures of his opponent to the vision of the Congress for Mumbai’s development. Excerpts:
What is the difference between the 2014 elections and now? How is your party campaigning this time?
The current situation is very different from the one in 2014. Then, there was a Modi wave in the country and as a result of this, we lost. There is a Modi wave even this time, except, it is against him. People are openly declaring they will not vote for the BJP and the Shiv Sena, as the saffron parties have failed to deliver on their promises.
According to you, the alliance has failed, but what about the sitting MP?
He has failed miserably. He has done nothing for the city, be it civic issues or law and order. He has a good attendance record (94 per cent) but what about the quality of his work? He has not been successful in bringing funds for the development of Mumbai. He could not even carry forward the works I had to leave incomplete before the 2014 polls.
But what about his ‘smart MP’ image? He is using social media and various other ways to connect with the voters
He might be a smart MP but this smartness is limited only to looks. He is not intellectually smart. He has failed miserably in making Mumbai smart. He claims (in his progress report) to have started the freeway but everyone is aware of the fact that Congress inaugurated the expressway in June 2013. Be it the metro or monorail, everything has been introduced by Congress, he is sitting back and merely taking credit.
How are you trying to connect with your voters, especially the youth, who are socially active?
I am personally not active on social media but I have a team to handle that. I make it a point to meet and greet people personally by visiting their homes. I address public meetings, hold roadshows and processions. I think meeting my voters personally is my responsibility. I cannot be like Shewale, who is always absent. Citizens know Shewale has not met them once in the last five years.
Your constituency has both Hindu and Muslim voters and given the highly charged atmosphere today, how will you cope?
Our party has always been secular. We do not believe in communalism or promote caste-based politics. My voters are sensible and they will not get swayed away by the strategies of the BJP and Sena, which are trying to create a communal atmosphere. In fact, in all my speeches, I ensure, I say, ‘Hum sab ek hai’.
The Dharavi Redevelopment Plan (DRP) implementation has been delayed. What would be your plan, if elected?
Let me clarify, I had prepared a proper and just plan for redeveloping Dharavi. In fact, I had issued orders for a social and educational survey of the area. The Sena and BJP had vehemently opposed this survey. Anyhow, we managed to complete it. We were about to implement the DRP but we lost and Shewale won. He could not even carry forward our plan or draft one of his own. He did nothing for Dharavi.
What are your plans for the Indu Mill memorial?
When the Congress was in power, I was the one who got the site at Dadar reserved for the statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. But as the Sena and the BJP came into power, the issue was delayed. The government performed the bhoomipoojan in haste, as they wanted to impress people in Bihar. But I am confident, once I am elected, this will be one of the first issues I will address.
