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Maharashtra Elections 2024: BJP Renominates Bharati Lavekar For Versova Amid Infrastructure Delays; MVA Puts Forward Haroon Khan

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Mumbai: Versova is one of the Vidhan Sabha constituencies located in the Mumbai Suburban district and is part of the Mumbai North West Lok Sabha constituency. Bharati Lavekar, 58, served as a BJP MLA for two consecutive terms and has now been nominated by the BJP for a third term.

With 2.82 lakh voters, the Versova constituency covers areas including Seven Bungalows, Yari Road, Versova, Lokhandwala, Oshiwara, Veera Desai Road, and parts of Jogeshwari West. It is a cosmopolitan area, with a significant Minorities and North Indian population, and includes the Koli community. The constituency comprises a mix of affluent, upper-middle-class, middle-class, and economically weaker sections of society.

The Versova constituency was established during the 2008 delimitation of the Vile Parle constituency. It includes portions of the former Vile Parle and Amboli constituencies. In 2009, Congress candidate Baldev Khosa was elected, but the seat shifted to the BJP in 2014 when Bharti Lavekar was elected and subsequently re-elected.

In 2019, Lavekar secured 41,057 votes, defeating Congress candidate Baldev Khosa by a margin of 5,186 votes, with Khosa receiving 35,871 votes.

Lavekar, a PhD holder, received the ‘Ahilyabai Holkar’ award from the Maharashtra Government in 2000-2001, and the ‘Maharashtra Ratna’ award in 2005 for her distinguished social work. She was one of two Indians selected by the American government to study the legislative elections in the U.S. in 2006.

According to a report by the Praja Foundation, which assesses the performance of elected representatives, Lavekar ranked 14th overall and maintained a clean criminal record with top attendance. However, she ranked 16th in terms of the quantity and quality of questions raised in the assembly.

The constituency faces several unresolved issues. The long-awaited Versova-Madh bridge has been planned for 35 years, yet construction has not begun, with estimated costs rising from Rs 400 crore to Rs 4,000 crore over the past years. Line 6 of the metro project has completed 80% of its civil work, but the construction of the yard remains stalled.

Other pending projects include a post office near Taraporewala Tower (planned since 1990) and a fire brigade station at Chitrakoot Grounds, reserved in the 1991 development plan but not yet built.

Dhaval Shah, Director of the Andheri Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Organisation, stated, “Road and bridge delays contribute to significant traffic congestion in the constituency. The Oshiwara River bridge project, started in 2018, remains incomplete. The Thackeray flyover extension has faced delays near Country Club, and the Yari Road to SVP Nagar flyover has been in the works for decades. The Mrinal Tai flyover extension is delayed by three years, and the Versova-Bandra Sea Link project has been delayed by four years, leading to cost escalation and high tolls for citizens.”

This time, predicting the outcome in this constituency is challenging. Political experts say that in the recent Lok Sabha election 2024, this constituency gave a lead of 21,000 votes to the MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) candidate. People are dissatisfied with Lavekar’s work, which could negatively impact BJP’s votes. However, the BJP has once again placed its confidence in Bharati Lavekar.

Lavekar stated, “The party declared my name late because it took time to decide who would receive this seat among the Mahayuti. My party informed me much earlier to start working. Over the last ten years, I have completed several major projects. The Savitribai Phule garden, a playground, a bridge work completed and the Versova-Madh bridge tender has been issued. A modern jetty worth Rs. 400 crore has been approved, which will benefit the Koli community. Approved Rs.35.50 crore funds for the Versova beach project, and approved Rs.20 crore for the Sea Erosion Barrier project.”

Further she stated, “The Oshiwara maternity hospital is under construction, and nine metro stations in the Versova area, along with the coastal road, are also being developed. The Versova-Bandra sea link project is 26% complete. Land for a Fire Brigade station has been reserved, and the process is ongoing. Several infrastructure projects were delayed due to the Maha Vikas Aghadi government gave stayed when they were in power.”

Meanwhile, the MVA seat that goes to Shiv Sena (UBT) has announced Haroon Khan’s name.

Versova has approximately 1.1 lakh minority voters. To counter the BJP and AIMIM’s strategy, Uddhav Thackeray has nominated a loyal Shiv Sena (UBT) member, Haroon Khan, as a candidate in the assembly elections.

Khan stated, “Voters should not think of me as just a Muslim candidate. I want to work for every community and focus on developmental work. In our constituency, several infrastructure projects, such as resolving issues on the JVLR, metro works, and pending SRA projects, are overdue. Good schools and playgrounds are needed in our constituency. This fight is between the BJP and the MVA.”

Raju Pednekar from the Thackeray group has rebelled and filed as an independent candidate. However, there is talk that Shiv Sainiks, along with other aspirants from the constituency, are upset because Thackeray has nominated Khan.

Apart from it MNS has announced Sandesh Desai as its candidate, and MIM has fielded Raiees Lashkaria.

Lashkaria stated, “In the Versova constituency, not a single infrastructure project has been completed in the last ten years. This reflects a total failure on the part of the BJP MLA. Both the Central and State governments have failed to address infrastructure needs in our area. With 40% of the constituency being from minority communities, I see a strong chance for the MIM to win this seat. This will be a battle between the MIM and the BJP”

MNS Desai added, “In our constituency, the Koliwadas’ FSI (Floor Space Index) and boundary issues are major concerns. The MLA has made promises but has not delivered any results. Our constituency includes affluent, middle, and poor classes, and high school fees with limited Right to Education quota seats are significant issues. Another concern is the lack of a BMC hospital; Cooper Hospital in Juhu is inadequate for our needs. We also lack public grounds as the Andheri Sports Complex charges fees, and traffic remains a persistent problem. People are disappointed with Lavekar’s performance.”

KEY CONCERNS

Versova-Madh connectivity

Metro yard construction

Fire brigade station requirement

Delayed bridge work over the Oshiwara River

Incomplete Thackeray flyover extension

Yari Road to SVP Nagar flyover delay

Mrinal Tai flyover extension delays

Versova-Bandra Sea Link project delay

Maharashtra

RAIS SHAIKH DEMAND Stay the Love Jihad committee on interfaith marriages,Scrap the proposal of invadiating admissions of ITI tribal students by linking them with religion

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RAIS SHAIKH DEMAND Stay the Love Jihad committee on interfaith marriages,Scrap the proposal of invadiating admissions of ITI tribal students by linking them with religion.

Mumbai: For the ongoing Maharashtra Assembly Elections, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has written to Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) demanding to include common minorities program in the MVA manifesto to provide justice to the minority community. Some of the important demands include staying love jihad committee on interfaith marriages, scrapping government proposal of invadiating admissions of ITI students by linking them with religion, reservation for Muslims, and socio-economic survey of the Muslim community among others.

Rais Shaikh, SP legislator and MVA candidate from Bhiwandi (East), has written to the MVA leaders such as Prithviraj Chavan from Congress, Jayant Patil from NCP (SP) and Anil Desai from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) on the same. In his letter to the MVA leaders, Shaikh has highlighted various issues concerning minority community and the need to address them.

Shaikh has said that the MVA, after coming to power, must examine and stay the Love Jihad Committee. BJP minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha had claimed that there are 1 lakh love jihad cases in the state. However, only over 400 complaints came before the committee, but not a single FIR has been registered in any of these complaints. Also, the proposal based on a committee which submitted a report suggesting to invalidate tribal students admissions in ITI by linking it with religion must be scrapped.

Shaikh has also advocated the need for Muslim reservation and stressed on conducting an extensive socio-economic survey of minority communities to ensure proportionate allocation of funds for various welfare schemes. “Minority students should be granted direct 100% scholarships, similar to those provided for SC, ST, and OBC students, instead of the existing educational loan facility,” added Shaikh.

Shaikh further said that like the Lok Sabha elections, the minority community will stand firmly behind the MVA in assembly elections. “The MVA government will come to power in the state and should implement these crucial issues concerning the minority community within the first 100 days of government,” said Shaikh.

Shaikh’s letter to the MVA leaders also highlighted other important issues such as implementation of various measures for the powerloom sector, enacting a law for the Gig workers, budgetary allocation of Rs 10,000 crore for the Muslim community, among other issues.

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Maharashtra

‘Kaisi Gandi Bhasha Ka Prayog Kiya Gaya Unke Liye’: PM Modi Hits Out At Derogatory Remark Against Shinde Sena Leader Shaina NC

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'Kaisi Gandi Bhasha Ka Prayog Kiya Gaya Unke Liye': PM Modi Hits Out At Derogatory Remark Against Shinde Sena Leader Shaina NC

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (November 4) hit out at the Congress party and its alliance partners for indecent remarks against women leaders of other parties. The Prime Minister criticised the comments made against Sita Soren by Congress leader Irfan Ansari and remarks against Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC by UBT’s Arvind Sawant in Maharashtra.

“Abhi Maharashtra mein bhi, ek behen chunav lad rahi hai, kaisi gandi bhasha ka prayog kiya gaya unke liye, ye inki aadat hai…”

(In Maharashtra, a sister who is contesting in the elections, dirty and foul language was used against her, this is their habit…) PM Modi said at the rally in Jharkhand’s Chaibasa.

The Prime Minister also added that the people of Maharashtra were waiting to teach the Congress and its alliance partners a lesson in the poll bound state.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant recently kicked up a row after his “imported maal” comment against Shaina NC who is contesting from the Mumbadevi assembly constituency on Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena ticket. Sawant apologised for his comment after huge controversy broke out over his derogatory remark.

The Prime Minister also hit out at Congress leader Irfan Ansari for his “rejected maal ” comment against Sita Soren and said that Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s silence over the matter showed the truth about the JMM. “For power, the JMM is even ready to accept insults hurled at tribal leaders,” the PM said.

Sita Soren had broken down at a press conference when speaking about the comments against her by Irfan Ansari.

Maharashtra will vote on November 20 and Jharkhand will vote in two phases on November 13 and November 20. The counting of votes in both states will be held on November 23.

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Maharashtra

Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: ‘We Will Decide Who Will Rule The State Next,’ Says Parivartan Mahashakti As It Decides To Contest From 121 Constituencies

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Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: 'We Will Decide Who Will Rule The State Next,' Says Parivartan Mahashakti As It Decides To Contest From 121 Constituencies

Nagpur: Parivartan Mahashakti, a conglomeration of nine smaller parties in Maharashtra loosely dubbed as a ‘third front’, will contest from 121 constituencies in the November 20 state assembly polls. 

“We have come together with a common minimum programme and aim to have a pole position in the coming election. Mahashakti will decide who will rule the state next,” said ex-MP Raju Shetty, a farmers’ leader who helms the Swabhimani Shetkari party, a constituent of the Mahashakti.

Joint Press Conference Held By Parivartan Mahashakti

Addressing a joint press conference here on Monday, the Parivartan Mahashakti leaders Leaders of the combine Shetty, sitting MLA Bachu Kadu, ex-MP Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje Bhosale, and ex-MLA Wamanrao Chatap said no government in Maharashtra till date has ever been pro-people and for farmers and this is largely reflected in state budgets. “We will help form a government that will work for the people,” said Kadu, a maverick politician who heads his own Prahar party. He is a three-term MLA from Achalpur in Amravati district of Vidarbha.

Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje of the Swarajya party said he was in touch with Maratha leader Manoj  Jarange and would be meeting him again tomorrow to seek support for the Mahashakti. Another farmers’ leader from Vidarbha and ex-MLA from Rajura inn Chandrapur district Wamanrao Chatap said if Mahashakti comes to power they would focus on sensitive issue of farmers’ suicide. “We will bring 14 lakh hectares of fresh agricultural land in state under irrigation coverage,” said Chatap.

Asked about the stand of Mahashakti on the demand of a separate Vidarbha state, Shetty and Bhosale said it would not be part of the agenda for the coming elections. “Though all constituents support the concept of smaller, better managed states, we will skip the statehood demand for Vidarbha for now,” said Shetty.  Both Chatap and Kadu are strong votaries of Vidarbha as separate state. Mahaskati will release its poll manifesto tomorrow.

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