‘Will push for White Paper on Dharavi redevelopment project if MVA comes to power in Maharashtra’: Varsha Gaikwad

Q: Has MVA finalised the seat sharing arrangement for Mumbai?

Varsha Gaikwad: We had asked for 18 seats in Mumbai. We had two meetings and I expect that the final decision will be taken in the next two to three days. It was based on the Lok Sabha performance and also on our strength in Mumbai. We had a discussion on 20 seats and among the rest nobody has asked for 6 seats. Except for 2-3 seats, there is no difficulty in our talks. We have good communication with the Sena, NCP (SP), SP and other parties as we all know their respective strengths. The only criteria is the winning factor. We are holding a meeting today (Wednesday) and everything will be finalised.

Q: Has the Haryana poll result affected your seat sharing talks with Sena – UBT?

Gaikwad: I don’t think so. During the General Elections, Congress workers honestly worked for the Sena candidates. Even Uddhav Thackeray ji knows it very well and his party workers too know it. The Congress strength has remained undivided. They (SS-UBT) know that Congress aid is required to win and we need their help as well to win. It is an alliance and we should work unitedly. The analysis of results of Haryana has shown that so many smaller parties and rebels contested and divided our votes.

Q: Are you expecting rebellion in your party as well in Assembly polls?

Gaikwad: Asking for a ticket is a right of every worker. But after the announcement (of ticket) there is no point in working against the party. If we want to bring the government, we will have to work together. There is no bravery in bringing our own colleagues down. Every worker should understand that they will get opportunities in future only if the party comes to power. We tell that to the workers, leaders. We managed to stop the BJP at 240 because we worked together and we have to continue the momentum without bothering about who is getting the ticket.

Q: How do you plan to control the damage of votes due to smaller parties?

Gaikwad: In the Lok Sabha election, 18 Muslim and three Buddhist candidates contested against me and it did cost me some votes. BJP fights the election where it allows candidates to cut votes and it damages MVA. The people need to understand this. In the past, I had requested Prakash Ambedkar to join the MVA. Maharashtra’s social justice department does not have a full-time minister. Issues like recruitment, attack on reservation are raging on and what is the position of Ambedkar ji for whom we have absolute respect? But whom is he trying to defeat? In alliance, every party has to make some adjustments and there’s nothing wrong in it. If the ultimate aim is to defeat the BJP, then what’s the point of splitting anti-BJP votes? We will need to go to people and convince them to vote for a side which can defeat the BJP and not waste their vote.

Q: Do you think this government is manipulating the administration and parties ahead of elections?

Gaikwad: I think, had this government been confident about returning to power we would not have seen them clearing 156 proposals in three cabinet meetings. It shows their insecurity. The government knows that the real issues of corruption, arrogance of power, looting state treasury and total neglect towards the problems of youth, women and farmers will lead them to defeat and that’s why they have been trying different means. Look at the manner in which Adani group is gifted with hundreds of acres of Mumbai land under the name of Dharavi redevelopment. It is possibly the only example where multiple acres of land is being gifted to a company involved in any sort of redevelopment project.

Q: What will be your stand on this issue if MVA comes to power?

Gaikwad: Each and every decision of gifting land to Dharavi should be reviewed after the formation of a new government. First, it was Kurla dairy, then land at Mulund and Deonar for PAPs, then salt pan land, the land in Borivli and latest is in Deonar dumping ground. I will personally push for a White Paper on the entire decision making process for Dharavi redevelopment and I am sure that it will be granted.