Lok Sabha elections 2024: Ravindra Waikar faces ire in Aarey

A video grab of a local complaining

During the ongoing election campaigns, supporters of Ravindra Waikar, a candidate from the Eknath Shinde faction, encountered public discontent while campaigning in Aarey. The public expressed dissatisfaction with the BJP corporator's performance and urged Waikar's supporters not to seek votes in his name. A video that went viral, captured by a local resident acknowledging Waikar's efforts in the area, but advising against associating with BJP corporator, Preeti Satam.

A Resident of Aarey Milk Colony recorded a video showing supporters of the Shiv Sena's Shinde faction candidate, Ravindra Waikar, engaged in door-to-door campaigning. The incident occurred in an area represented by BJP Corporator Preeti Satam, where Waikar's supporters encountered displeasure from locals who were dissatisfied with Satam's performance.

Locals say they have been complaining for years about the dusty road between Aarey market and Royal Palms. File pic

"You can take Ravindra Waikar's name and come for campaigning in our area because he has done work of construction of public toilets, but if you take the name of Preeti Satam and BJP then please don't visit our area," the video states.

In response to the same one of the supporters of Waikar is seen saying in the video that they are the supporters of Shiv Sena candidate Ravindra Waikar and are Shiv Sainiks.

The residents of Aarey Milk Colony and tribal communities in the area express discontent towards political parties and local representatives, including the sitting MP, MLA, and corporators. This is because, allegedly, they have not adequately addressed the poor condition of internal roads in Aarey, leading to significant inconvenience for residents.

mid-day has repeatedly highlighted the bad condition of the road going from Aarey market towards Royal Palms, which also leads to dust pollution. What is surprising is that just before the elections, the work of repairing the road has begun on the stretch.

In the Mumbai North West Lok sabha constituency, the sitting MP is Gajanan Kirtikar is now with the Shiv Sena Eknath Shinde faction. Amol Kirtikar - the son of Gajanan Kirtikar - is fighting the election as a Shiv Sena (UBT) and MVA candidate against Waikar of Eknath Shinde and Mahayuti.