The Maharashtra Macchimar Vikas Aaghadi (MMVA), a development front of Maharashtra fishermen, has asked for candidature for the people from the fishing community in the impending local bodies and municipal council elections in the state.
"Since the community has no say in politics, several issues concerning fishermen are not being addressed. Therefore, our demand is that wherever the fishing community has a strong presence, candidature should be given in those areas for the local bodies and municipal council elections, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)" Mahesh Tandel, president of MMVA said.
The MMVA has given letters to Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Manikrao Thakre and state NCP chief Madhukar Pichad regarding this and it also plans to give similar letters to the Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.
"We do not want to candidature everywhere, but only in those pockets, where the community has a strong presence," he added.
Tandel issued a warning saying, "If candidates from the fishing community are not given tickets, we will ask people not to vote in favour of these political parties."
