The initiative to nominate a citizens’ candidate for the constituency was taken by Janhit Nagrik Manch (JNM).
Buoyed by the success of getting an independent candidate elected to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), NGOs and citizens from A165 Andheri (West) Assembly constituency have selected Juhu activist Hansel D’Souza, 48, as their consensus candidate for the state election.
The initiative to nominate a citizens’ candidate for the constituency was taken by Janhit Nagrik Manch (JNM). “Democracy starts from involvement of people from the grassroots. We believe that if people start becoming involved in the democratic process without belonging to a political party, a lot of policy reforms can be brought about at the state level,” said Mayank Gandhi, member, JNM. JNM first tried the process in January 2007 and was successful when citizens’ candidate and Juhu activist Adolf D’souza emerged victorious in the civic poll.
On Sunday, out of the 266 area representatives (ARs) in the constituency, 157 voted for the candidates. D’Souza polled 114 votes. The four candidates who volunteered to contest the poll were activists Vasant Naik and Neha Kumar, Nanda Kishore Bharatiya (a journalist) and Hansel D’Souza. All of them were then approved by their respective ARs.
Panelists actor Shabana Azmi, Magasaysay award winner Dr LC Jain, Ajit Ranade from the Association of Democratic Rights and Adolf D’Souza were there to nominate the candidates. “It’s a historical moment today and its consequences will go far. There are 1 lakh voters in Juhu and we need atleast 20,000 votes to win which isn’t an impossible task,” said Azmi.
Adolf D’Souza said that if their candidate is elected, then a citizens’ assembly committee will be formed where ARs will participate and citizens will be involved in the decision-making process of the MLA. “By this way, there will be transparency and accountability. This will help take the citizens’ movement further,” he said.
A former lecturer in marketing management and president of Juhu Citizens’ Welfare Group, D’Souza said, “If I get elected, I will look into issues of people falling from local trains and call for a ban on reclamation of the sea. I’ll also look into the issue of farmer suicides.”
When asked what his advice will be to Hansel D’Souza, the corporator said: “Doing one’s duty sincerely is the mantra. What is lacking in politicians is integrity. There will be people who will not like you, but one should continue doing his work. People come up with inane issues. But we are here to do our duty and not treat it like a business. Just be honest.” D’Souza will be pitched against probable Congress candidate Ashok Jadhav.
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