The fishermen of Versova have adopted the novel idea of choosing the official candidate of the community from the four Independent nomination aspirants. The community trust has asked for an election on Thursday to decide on the candidate. This candidate will be projected as an official representative against the political contestants in the ward.
Fishermen in Mumbai feel that they are not represented on any forum when it comes to raising a voice for the problems the community faces. “We have our people in each political party, but they have never been given a chance to contest and represent our area. Only a person who is within the community can understand our problems,” said Rajhans Tapke, a prominent leader of the fishermen in Versova.
While Versova Koli gaothan has a population of 15,000 - 20,000, registered voters are only 12,000 in number. The fishermen community has decided that they will not allow any outsider to represent them.
“The candidates nominated by the political parties are not even from the voters list of the ward. Then how will they know our problems?” asked a fisherman from the area.
On Thursday, the community trust decided to elect a candidate from the four candidates to choose an official one, after the four candidates showed reluctance for withdrawing nominations. “After the election, Mahendra Ladge secured the highest votes. So the community trust has endorsed his nomination as an official one,” said Tapke.
However, one of the Independent candidates, Chhaya Bhanji, who was the sittingcorporator of the ward and was dumped by Shiv Sena, has disagreed. “The community election was bogus, and I will not withdraw myself from the fray. I have my supporters in the community and I will surely win”, said Bhanji.
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