As the polling for 305 panchayat samitis and 27 zilla parishads ended on Tuesday, the ruling Congress and Nationalist Congress Party, who contested these elections separately, have put up a united show in the crucial elections to the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) slated for February 16.
The objective is to dislodge the 15-year rule of saffron combine Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party and thereby assume control over one of India's richest civic bodies with an annual budget of Rs 22,000 crore.
Terming the saffron party rule as the most corrupt one, both the chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and his deputy Ajit Pawar on Wednesday said both the parties were committed to transform Mumbai into a livable city with focus on upgradation of infrastructure, removal of traffic bottlenecks, supply of sufficient water, single tariff across the city despite multiple power suppliers. “Time is quite opportune for a change for the betterment of Mumbaikars,” Chavan said.
Pawar, who played a major role for electoral alliance between the two parties, attacked the saffron combine as communal and also criticized them and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena for raking up issue of Marathi manoos. “We are also Marathi manoos. We will do everything for the development of Marathi manoos but at the same time will not neglect at the betterment of those migrating to the city for livelihood,” he noted.
Congress and NCP, which have roped in dalit factions– Republican Party of India (Gavai Group) and Peoples Republican Party (Kawade Group)- declared that they were undeterred by Shiv Sena-BJP’s move to align with Republican Party of India led by Ramdas Athavale.
They have not forgotten to include a crucial issue of development of a world class memorial of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in the premises of the Indu textile Mill currently owned by the state-run National Textile Corporation in north central Mumbai. Congress and NCP have already got an in principle approval from the central government for the transfer of 12.5 acre of land for the proposed memorial and they have declared their commitment to make it a reality if voted to power.
Releasing their election manifesto, Congress and NCP have promised a single tariff for power consumers. Currently, Mumbaikars are receiving supply from Tata Power, Reliance Infrastructure, BrihanMumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) and MahaVitaran at different tariffs. Pawar said that a single tariff was on its agenda and the government would pursue the matter at the level of power regulator.
Further, Congress and NCP have promised pothole free roads in the metropolis, car parkings, home for those living in old and dilapidated buildings and protection to the incumbent slum dwellers whose slums have come up during 1999 and December 31, 2000. The state cabinet has already approved a decision in this regard by amending the Development Control Rules.
Meanwhile, Congress and NCP have organised joint rallies in the city and they would launch campaign at the meeting organized in Bandra, the traditional bastion of Shiv Sena, on February 9. Besides, NCP chief and agriculture minister Sharad Pawar would address three meetings on February 10 while Congress is planning to bring union ministers during campaigning.
