Mumbai: The victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Mumbai North East, Manoj Kotak, in the 2019 Lok Sabha (LS) election is being largely attributed to the Gujarati vote-bank. Theirs was the driving force, which propelled Kotak into Parliament, it is believed.
According to the Election Commission, the assembly constituencies — Mulund east and west, Ghatkopar east and west, dominated by Gujaratis, recorded a higher voting turnout than the Marathi-dominated constituency Bhandup.
Flushed with victory, Kotak said, “The Modi wave was not just in the country or state, but also in the North East constituency and helped me win. The hard work and efforts put in by the Shiv Sena, the BJP and other party workers, too, ensured my success and I am thankful to them. People elect those leaders who run to their assistance and never refuse help.”
Kotak received 5.14 lakh votes, while the Nationalist Congres Party (NCP) candidate Sanjay Dina Patil, managed to get 2.88 lakh votes. Shortly after the first round of counting and Kotak was leading, the BJP supporters gathered at the counting centre at Vikhroli began to celebrate. They chanted Modi’s name and danced to the rhythm of the drums.
Kotak mentioned that because of efforts made by his party, the Mulund dumping ground was closed. Similarly, the Deonar dump too will be shut using scientific methods, he assured. Former member of Parliament Kirit Somaiya also congratulated his “younger brother” Kotak on his victory. Somaiya further said it was a Modi tsunami.
