Sources tell mid-day two recently poached Congress ex-corporators will be tasked with strengthening party in larger Lok Sabha constituencies of Mumbai North and Central
BJP leader welcoming former Congress leaders in Mumbai
It looks like the BJP has started spreading its wings at the grassroots level for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Two former Congress corporators joined the BJP on Monday further strengthening the party at the grass-roots level. During the event, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “We welcome former corporators who connect with the grassroots.” Experts claim this grass-roots work is needed to increase the number of votes.
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Rajendra Narwankar, former corporator from the Mumbai Central area, ward number 216, and Jagdish Kutty, former corporator from Andheri East, ward number 82, joined the BJP in the presence of Fadnavis and MLA and BJP Mumbai Chief Advocate Ashish Shelar as well as Guardian Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha. During the event, Fadnavis said former corporators from various parties expressed a wish to join the BJP. “But, we have decided to welcome only those who have grassroots connections and are working on developing that. Kutty has worked as district president of the Congress and has good grassroots connections. Narwankar has good connections not only in his own ward but in other wards too, as he works at the ground level,” Fadnavis added.
Ex-corporators Jagdish Kutty (left) and Rajendra Narwankar
As per data, in the 2017 civic election, Kutty secured 5,663 votes while the BJP candidate secured 5,615 votes. Narwankar secured 8,541 votes, and the BJP candidate secured 5,125 votes. Narwankar won by 3,416 votes.
Kutty is from the Andheri East constituency, which is currently represented by Rutuja Latke of Shiv Sena (UBT). He also belongs to the North West Mumbai Lok Sabha area, currently represented by MP Gajanan Kirtikar of Shiv Sena. Sources say BJP is interested in contesting from both Mumbai North West and Andheri East.
Part of Narwankar’s area falls in Mumbadevi, represented by Amin Patel of Congress, and part falls in Malabar Hill, represented by Guardian Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha. This area is part of the South Mumbai Parliamentary constituency, represented by Arvind Sawant of Shiv Sena. BJP is also considering contesting the parliamentary election from south Mumbai.
Jagdish Kutty being felicitated at the event
Political expert Abhay Deshpande said, “BJP has started securing new votes by poaching local leadership from the other parties. If the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress’s traditional voters came together it would be a potent combination, so to answer this combination BJP started adding new voters. Now, those entering the BJP may not be useful in stabilising the current government. But they are needed for vote combinations,” Deshpande added.
Another political observer who did not wish to share his name said, “Most of the corporators won the election as they had door-to-door contacts with the voters. Which will be used fully in the Assembly and Parliamentary elections. Also, these two former corporators defeated BJP candidates in the civic election. So, these kinds of former corporators will be useful in the next election."
Rajendra Narwankar being felicitated at the event
“Party workers like us who have grassroots connections are not getting respect in the Congress,” Jagdish Kutty said. “Our work is not taken into account. So, we decided to go with a better party,” Kutty added. “More workers who have grassroots connections and are willing to work for the party and people will join BJP soon,” Jagdish Kutty added. Narwankar said, “I wish to work for people, so I joined the BJP. Where I can get the opportunity to work for people.” Meanwhile, Mumbai Congress president, MLA Varsha Gaikwad did not respond to mid-day’s calls and messages.
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