Dr Shrikant Shinde interview: ‘There is no sympathy for Thackerays… They sat in their homes during Covid & indulged in corruption’

We have undertaken a slew of development work. My constituency has a high population density with over 35 lakh people. Improving their commuting has been my priority.

We first worked on completion of the work on the fifth and sixth line of Central Railway, which was dragging for over 25 years. As a result, services have increased. Then we also worked on the Kalyan yard remodelling project, which will segregate the services of outstation mail trains and suburban trains. Once the project is completed, we will have regular shuttle-like services between Kalyan and Kurla. This area was earlier known as ‘gaddhon ka shahar’ (city of potholes). Nearly 70 per cent of the roads in my constituency are concretised and, in next two years, it will reach 100 per cent, making them completely pothole-free. We widened the single-lane Kalyan-Shil road into a six-lane road. We also got the Metro route sanctioned for the constituency. Its work has started and, in the next two years, it will be completed.

“We have undertaken major steps on healthcare infrastructure. We have set up a nearly 200-bed multi-speciality hospital under Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (under public-private-partnership basis),” said Dr Shrikant Shinde

After the pandemic, a need was felt for a better and more effective public healthcare system. You are a doctor, how do you plan to improve the healthcare infrastructure in your constituency?

We have undertaken major steps on healthcare infrastructure. We have set up a nearly 200-bed multi-speciality hospital under Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (under public-private-partnership basis). We are building a cancer hospital in Dombivali, whose bhoomipujan has been done. Built at Rs 102 crore, a kamgar hospital (100 beds) under ESIC will start functioning in three-four months in Ulhasnagar.

We have also set up a dialysis centre and NICU, PICU in Thakurli and Dombivali respectively. Besides, Rs 403 crore has been sanctioned for a medical college in Ambernath.

There has been differences between you and the local BJP unit. Are you sure of the BJP cadre backing you?

It’s not true. Everyone is happy and fully supporting me. And you can see it from the fact that we started campaigning together long back.

Your party has still not formally announced your candidature. What is the issue?

It’s done… the formalities of announcement are not required. The CM himself recently attended a function in Dombivali, where we presented the ‘Vikas Dashak Ahwal’ (detailed report of the development works done in the past one decade).

Kalyan constituency has been a stronghold of the Shiv Sena. You were selected twice as MP when your party was undivided. But political equations have changed in the state. Now that the Shiv Sena has been divided into two factions, do you see the voter’s faith on your side?

Yes, very much. In fact, I’m going to win by a higher margin this time in my constituency over the development work done in the past one decade. Generally, everywhere in the third term there is anti-incumbency, but in my constituency there is pro-incumbency.

Shiv Sena (UBT) has been claiming that the lower-rung cadre of the old (undivided) Shiv Sena is still with them and voters still sympathise with Uddhav Thackeray. Your take?

“NCP (Ajit Pawar) joined BJP and Shiv Sena’s Mahayuti for the development agenda as people want development. Our agenda is development,” said Dr Shrikant Shinde

There is no sympathy at all. People sympathise with those who help them. They (Thackereys and MVA leaders) sat in their homes during Covid. They indulged in corruption in the purchase of bodybags. They bought bodybags worth Rs 600 each for Rs 6,000 each. They indulged in corruption in setting up Covid centres. They indulged in corruption in khichdi scam. Corruption money has directly gone into their accounts. Aaditya Thackeray’s PA Suraj Chavan is in jail for the scam. They believe that there is sympathy, but in reality they have formed a ‘mrugjal’ (mirage) around them. Had there been any sympathy towards them why would 50 out of the 82 corporators in Mumbai join our party? Corporators are considered as the ones who are connected to the ground. Ground reality is different. People want development work. The CM and deputy CM in the Mahayuti are doing work for people, and took record-breaking decisions for people in the last two years. Through ‘Shasan Aplya Dari’ (government at your doorstep) initiative, we have extended benefits directly to beneficiaries.

Do you think traditionally pro-Hinduism parties like Shiv Sena and BJP forming an alliance with their ideological rivals like NCP would have an impact on the overall election results?

We have an ideology of Hindutva. We are taking forward Balasaheb’s ideology. There is no compromise in our Hindutva ideology. They compromised on this issue, and that’s why we parted ways. NCP (Ajit Pawar) joined BJP and Shiv Sena’s Mahayuti for the development agenda as people want development. Our agenda is development.

You have been prominent in raising the Haji Malang dargah issue. Are you in favour of reclaiming it and is it part of your election agenda?

Malangad is not an election agenda. It has been an emotional subject for us for years. It was first started by (Anand) Dighe saheb. There is a Machindranath samadhi there. The matter is being dealt with legally, like the issue of Ram Mandir temple in Ayodhya.