Shiv Sena corporator from Mankhurd, Rahul Shewale, clearly enjoys the confidence of party chief Uddhav Thackeray. After heading BMC's all-powerful standing committee for four years in a row, Shewale is in the fray for Lok Sabha polls from the Mumbai South-Central seat. While the 39-year-old admits that snatching the seat from the Congress is an uphill task, Shewale tells dna's Eknath Makne that he is up for the challenge. This is to give a tribute to late party supremo Bal Thackeray, who Shewale said, was upset over party's two back-to-back defeats in previous elections. Excerpts:
Did you ever think of getting an opportunity to contest Lok Sabha polls?
No. I never thought that I would get a chance to contest polls so early in my career. This election is going to be a turning point in my career. I think my tenure as a standing committee chairman for four years, proximity with RPI's (Athawale faction) and experience of contesting 2009 assembly polls from Anushakti Nagar which falls in the Lok Sabha constituency worked in my favour as a possible candidate. Besides, I was born in Dadar and that way, I am a local candidate.
The constituency is city's entry and exit point towards Navi Mumbai. Hence, needs mega infrastructural changes. What plans you have for bringing in changes in the area?
Entire Mumbai requires funds to the tune of Rs71,000 crore to improve infrastructure to the extent it is rated as international class. Out of these, Rs20,000 crore will be needed for improvement of state-of-the-art cement concrete roads. Traffic managing measures will be taken. Presence of hawkers along roads is an issue. So, in order to ensure smooth traffic flow, we will have to ensure motorists and hawkers won't suffer. As part of this, a pilot project will be implemented in Dadar by creating hawkers' zone. We will come up with a comprehensive parking policy once the NDA government comes to power.
What other local issues need to be addressed?
I will undertake long-pending issues like redevelopment of BDD chawl, police colony, Dharavi and Sion-Koliwada on priority basis. I will also focus on expansion of railway stations on the harbor line. The constituency has most number of forts in Mumbai. I will try to bring in a policy to upgrade these and attract tourism. Increasing tourists' footfalls at Dadar and Mahim chowpatty too will be of high importance. Curbing pollution level is on higher side here. My attempt will be to formulate a policy to bring it down.
Shiv Sena leaders in the BMC like you are often alleged of having no control over civic administration headed by some IAS officers. If elected, how will you get these public works done in Delhi where you will be exposed to seasoned IAS officers?
This is completely untrue. My party has managed to retain power in the BMC for four back-to-back terms. This is mainly because we could do justice to those who voted us. We have managed to get works done through senior IAS officers in the BMC. Same will be the case in Delhi.
Your contest against Congress nominee Eknath Gaikwad is being labeled as a 'Dalit versus Dalit' fight. Gaikwad is a Buddhist, number of whom is on higher side than Charmkar community which you belong to. With RPI not in the fray directly, votes of Buddhists are likely to go to Gaikwad. In this backdrop, how do you see conquering sitting MP Gaikwad?
As I said, our alliance with RPI will be very beneficial for me. Buddhist people will accept me against Gaikwad because he did not perform. Gaikwad has been a legislator and state minister from the area for 35-40 years. But he has not done anything substantial for the Dalits. Be it issues like getting Indu Mills land for Ambedkar memorial, Chaityabhoomi beautification and allocation of funds for Ambedkar death anniversary, he has been a failure on all front. In fact,
I could get maximum funds for the Chaityabhoomi beautification and anniversary event through BMC and people know it. Besides, I am sure to get support of south Indian voters along with traditional Marathi votes.
MNS bagged substantial votes during last Parliamentary election. How crucial the MNS factor will be during this election?
I don't think the MNS factor will matter much this time. There is an obvious dissent amongst public against MNS corporators and legislator in Dadar and Mahim belt over their performance. Besides, during the last poll, Shiv Sena-BJP had managed to secure more votes than MNS in some assembly constituencies. So, I am sure we will have an edge over the MNS this time.
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