BMC to have coordination committee, AI to get rid of corruption: Shelar

“There will be zero tolerance for corruption in the BMC,” he said, adding “our emphasis is on good governance for which AI will prove effective model”.

From tendering process to ward-wise analysis of citizen oriented issues, AI will be deployed to eradicate corruption deeply ingrained in the system, he said.

Mumbai: A man signs a board on Thursday as part of a poll awareness campaign organised at G/South Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) office in Mumbai, Maharashtra. (PTI Photo)

“It is our endeavor to ensure corruption-free administration for which AI will be incorporated to change system,” he added. At the same time, he clarified, ” The BMC’s authority will never be compromised. To the contrary it will be empowered.”

Shelar claimed that the people will vote for Mahayuti on development agenda. “The next mayor will be from Mahayuti. The mayor will be Marathi,” he added.

Accusing Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray of “failing Mumbai and Mumbaikars”, the BJP leader said, “He is responsible for corruption that became a mainstay in the civic body. Moreover, several mega projects undertaken by BJP were always opposed by (Sena UBT MLA) Aaditya Thackeray in the recent past.”

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Elaborating on the coordination committee under BMC, Shelar said, “There are multiple agencies and authorities functioning independently in isolation. Each one has specific plan and project. But when you undertake certain work, involvement of other agencies to tackle hurdles is essential…To ensure effective working, a coordination committee will be constituted.”

Dismissing apprehensions about reunion of Thackeray brothers affecting BJP’s prospects, Shelar, who also holds Cultural affairs portfolio, said, “If we look at three successive Assembly elections 2014, 2019 and 2024, BJP won over 100 out of 288 seats. This shows Marathis have voted for BJP. In Mumbai also our performance was good.”

“Everybody knows Marathi language got classical language status during BJP government at centre and state,” he added.

Shelar further accused the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA regime from 2019-2022 of stopping Hindu festivals during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It was BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis who led the fight to restore Dahi Handi and Ganeshostsav. We gave Ganeshostav state festival status. As many as 12 forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj were given global recognition and granted UNESCO heritage status. The BJP ensured that the culture and tradition of Mumbaikars are not compromised,” he added.