Mumbai: BDD Chawl residents say no vote sans redevelopment

A certain section of residents residing at N M Joshi Marg's BDD Chawl have put a notice board stating "No Redevelopment Agreement, No Vote." They even opposed Shiv Sena candidate Arvind Sawant from campaigning in the segments of BDD Chawl, and have decided that they will oppose all political parties.

There are 32 buildings and more than 2,500 tenants residing at BDD Chawl in N M Joshi Marg. One of the organisation that has put the board is Jai Bharat Krida Mandal, stating that they first want redevelopment agreement and only then will vote. Umesh More of the Mandal said, "Our opposition is for every political party, we have been going from one office to other, asking for the redevelopment agreement, but no one ever heard us. Now it is the time, of these politicians to come to us and hence, we decided, that we will let them know our protest. We want redevelopment, and for that, we need an agreement in place first."

Politicians had to face the brunt of the residents, including Shiv Sena candidate Arvind Sawant, when he visited the BDD Chawl, there were such boards put up.

However, not all residents of BDD Chawl are in sync with those protesting. Krishnakant Nalge, one of the residents of the chawl and also head of one of the BDD redevelopment committee says that majority of the residents are happy the way the redevelopment process, is shaping up.