Govinda out of race,but why is Virar happy?

People of Govinda’s hometown Virar,which was part of the Mumbai North constituency until the recent delimitation exercise,are in fact happy he is not contesting.

Residents say he would have lost anyway. “We won’t vote him back. Not even by mistake. In fact,he has done us a favor by not contesting,” says Harish Singh,another acquaintance of the actor from his earlier days.

Govinda had managed to beat BJP veteran Ram Naik the last time.

After that,the Virar residents had high expectations. But the anticipated funds and development never came.

After winning the seat,Govinda hardly ever visited hometown Virar,where he used to stay in a 300-sq-foot chawl till he hit stardom in the ‘80s.

“Forget development,he has not visited us even once. All the time he has come is to visit the religious places,not to know our problems,” says Danny Agarwal. “People of Virar and the surrounding areas have been facing several problems,water and power shortage and lack of roads. The only development is in load-shedding,it has increased from two hours earlier to eight hours now,” he adds sarcastically.

Govinda,however,claims he has done a lot for his constituency. He says he was responsible for increasing train services from Virar and removal of slumdwellers along the railway line to make way for quadrupling of the Borivli-Virar stretch.

Shiv Sena’s Vilas Chorghe said Govinda is to be blamed for the people’s anger. “Ever since he was elected,he has not maintained any contact with people. One cannot bank just on popularity as an actor,” he said.

Govinda may say his opponents in the party were responsible for his decision to opt out,but Virar is not ready to believe it.