Mumbai: BJP MLA Mihir Kotecha changes selfie-point theme, adds his name

The selfie-point at the gates of Sardar Pratapsingh Udyan at Swapnanagari, Mulund West. Pics/Rajesh Gupta

The two selfie-points in Mulund have been hit by controversy after MLA Mihir Kotecha, whose name has been mentioned in both the places, refused to remove it even after instructions from the BMC.

As a part of beautifying the city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has erected selfie points at various places in the city under the theme ‘I Love Mumbai', ‘I Love Worli', and such. However, Kotecha, MLA from Mulund constituency, did not follow the rule and erected the selfie points - one at the gates of Sardar Pratapsingh Udyan at Swapnanagari, Mulund West and the other one at Morya Lake, Mulund East - which read ‘#Mulund' and also displayed his name.

According to complaints, the BMC had given NOC to Mhada to erect the selfie point with the theme ‘I Love Mulund' which Kotecha violated.

The selfie-point that reads #Mulund along with the MLA's name at Morya Lake, Mulund East

BJP worker Anil Mhaske has also complained to the civic body's T ward about using Kotecha's name. "The garden in Swapnanagari was built during my father Vishwanath Mhaske's tenure, but he never put his name anywhere in the garden, but this MLA has put his name on selfie point, even as only ‘I Love Mulund' was sanctioned. I had written to BMC a month ago, following which it was removed in March. But it reappeared after a week. The same has been done at Mulund East too. I don't know how BMC is tolerating such stuff," he said, adding, "Why is the MLA promoting himself using public money?"

Sunil Gangwani, former corporator and general secretary of Mumbai Regional Congress Committee, said, "Public representatives keep on changing but our duty is to ensure wise utilisation of public funds. Putting up signboards to promote themselves is a tawdry move and misuse of public money."

When questioned, Kotecha told mid-day, "If Aaditya Thakcreay, Varsha Gaikwad and Abu Azmi can have their names why can't I? I am completely aware of the rules and regulations of the BMC, but the rules should be uniform for all representatives. If BMC wants to remove my name from it, they should do it with other leaders as well." Mid-day's attempts to contact Chakrapani Alle, assistant municipal commissioner, T ward, went unanswered.