greenhorns in fray try to make up for lack of experience with educational qualification.
Does having an MBA or MTech degree make you better at solving the city’s water woes or repairing its roads? A few highly qualified candidates contesting in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) elections seem to think so.
Bhavna Jain, a first-time candidate from the Congress who is campaigning in Bandra, wants voters to know about her academic qualifications.
When DNA asked her about her on-ground experience, Bhavna, 45, said, “I hold BE and MBA degrees and worked as a company director in the United States before joining the Congress three years ago. So, I am capable enough to lead and bring about change in the constituency.”
Interestingly, candidates of even national parties are not simply relying on the clout of their party for a win. And since they are first-timers with no achievements to claim, resumes are being pulled out to impress voters.
“I have dedicated many years to obtain a doctor’s degree. So, I am more deserving,” said MNS candidate and a homoeopath from Ward 144 in Chembur, Dr Sarali Shastri. Shastri is also telling voters that she has cleared the entrance examination administered by Raj Thackeray, which means she has enough knowledge about the BMC.
NCP candidate from Ward 8 in Thane, Tejal Patil is a software engineer and also swears by her academic qualifications, as well as those of her father’s (Madhukar Patil, ex-commissioner, TMC), an IAS officer.
Shiv Sena candidate Suresh Mohite, who is currently vice-president at Piramal Group, is also touting his LLB and MBA (Human Resources) degree. His pamphlet has a section citing his degrees.
Candidates are essentially hoping that their impressive resumes will attract the youth and residents of posh areas who are usually reluctant to vote citing poor choice of candidates, some of whom even have criminal backgrounds.
Sanjeev Dhamanse, an ex-executive engineer of TMC, who resigned a month ago to contest the election as an independent candidate, mentions his MTech, double MBAs and an on-going PhD degrees every time he interacts with voters. Dhamanse said,
“Less qualified corporators don’t understand big
projects and their financial outcome. My degrees will help me understand every aspect of town planning. I know every nook and corner of TMC.”
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