Varsha Gaikwad: People first, protection and policy for all

The manifesto is based on three aspects—people first, project rights, and policy for all

A digital platform to interact with the MP, protection and preservation of open spaces and culture, and policies for all communities are assurances given by Varsha Gaikwad in her ‘personalised' manifesto for the North Central constituency in Mumbai from where she is contesting on a Congress ticket. With hardly three days for voting, Ramesh Chennithala, Maharashtra Congress in-charge, published the manifesto on Thursday.

The fifth phase of voting is on Monday and election campaigns are in the final stage. When mid-day asked Gaikwad about the delay in publishing the manifesto, she replied, "It is not just an election manifesto, but it is my vision for the next five years for my constituency, which I have made after speaking to people in my constituency. So I don't think there is a delay."

She added that efforts would be made to conserve open spaces, prevent tree felling, and devise a special strategy for rehabilitation in the airport funnel zone. "There is also a need to increase the number of local trains, upgrade the quality of long-distance railways, and to reduce unfair GST levied on housing societies." According to Gaikwad, her manifesto is based on three aspects - people first, project rights, and policy for all.

Under ‘people first' the manifesto guarantees a dedicated digital platform to interact with the MP, a quarterly ‘jansunwai' (hearing), a working group of citizens and experts and an annual MP performance report card. Gaikwad also assured protection of open spaces under threat in Bandra and Kurla, and also to preserve Gothans, Koliwadas and their heritage by improving infrastructure. The manifesto also assured cleaner, greener and safer neighbourhoods with pollution control, better roads, more trains, water for all, business and self-employment opportunities, and healthier living.

Chennithala praised Gaikwad as a fighter and said the two-time MP of the constituency hadn't done anything for the area. "Even the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not ready to speak on what he has done in 10 years and what he will do next. In every speech, Modi talks about Hindus, Muslims, and Pakistan, and is trying to create confusion among the people. But now the people will not fall prey to his delusions," he said, adding that the government will change on June 4 and MVA will form a new government.

Ghatkopar incident
"There hasn't been an elected representative in the BMC for the last two years and it is governed by the state government. Then the responsibility should be on the state government and BMC babus," said Chennithala.