‘PM Modi had to hold a rally in Pune because of my entry into the poll fray’: VBA’s Pune candidate Vasant More

“Before the destruction of the Vetal Tekdi, the Pune Municipal Corporation or the state government needs to ask themselves, how much distance is it really going to save?” asked Vasant More.

"Because of my entry, PM Modi had to organise a rally in Pune. Today, even Raj Thackarey had to hold a rally," Vasant More told The Indian Express. (X/@vasantmore88)

Written by: Ravina Warkad

5 min readPuneMay 11, 2024 06:40 PM IST First published on: May 11, 2024 at 06:40 PM IST

Vasant More, who was with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), resigned from the party close to the elections. He was seeking a Congress ticket but couldn’t get one. However, he then decided to contest from a Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi ticket, thereby making the polls in the Pune district a triangular fight. In an interview with Ravina Warkad, More pointed out his poll promises, what he plans to deliver if he wins and more.

Edited excerpts:

Why should Puneites vote for you?

Vasant More: I have been contesting elections for the last 15 years and I have also been a corporator of Katraj. I have taken up all the major issues in the area. So, if people elect me, I am 100 percent sure that I can do the same for the whole city.

What are your three biggest promises to Punekars?

Vasant More: My three biggest promises are a traffic jam-free Pune, a safer Pune for women and a solution to the water and health related issues. These local level problems have remained unsolved for the last ten years as the BJP MP didn’t pay heed to any of these.

What are your main allegations against the BJP which had two MPs for the last 10 years in Pune?

Vasant More: The BJP and its MPs failed on all fronts to solve issues concerning traffic, safety and water. Especially the traffic issue, which they couldn’t solve at all. When the Covid set in, Pune saw the highest death rate. So, they have failed in providing a good infrastructure for health as well.

What is your campaign strategy and how is the response from Punekars?

Vasant More: Pune cantonment, Wadgaon Sheri, Shivajinagar and Parvati, in all the four assembly seats I am getting a good response. This strength is coming from the Maratha, Dalit, OBC, ST and Muslim communities. All of them are helping me in my campaigning.

Do you think Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Pune will affect your chances?

Vasant More: Because of my entry, PM Modi had to organise a rally in Pune. Today, even Raj Thackarey had to hold a rally. If I was not contesting, they wouldn’t have planned Modi’s rally or Raj Thackarey’s rally. It would have been an easy one-sided win for them. But my entry has come as a challenge for the BJP.

In March 2024 | Firebrand Pune leader Vasant More quits MNS, to decide on future plans soon

What are you relying more on, corner meetings, padyatras or rallies?

Vasant More: I have covered a distance of 52 km through padyatras in the city. I am also doing two corner sabhas everyday and also telecasting them live. I have done 80 corner meetings till now. The last two days, we have had back-to-back bike rallies. So, overall, there is no part in the city where we haven’t campaigned.

What is your take on the RFD and the Balbharti road projects?

Vasant More: The RFD or the River Front Development project, is being implemented in a very wrong manner in Pune. The BJP is going the wrong way. Around 6.5 thousand trees were going to be cut but I took a stand against it and not even one tree was felled.

Before the destruction of the Vetal Tekdi, the Pune Municipal Corporation or the state government needs to ask themselves, how much distance is it really going to save? It will be around three minutes only.

So, does it make sense to spend so much money on the project? Already a huge sum has been spent on the Metro and it has been a big failure. So, we need to rethink and start thinking of water arrangements for the city. The BJP only does publicity, no real work and Punekars have understood that.

Check out | Voters really need to think what BJP gave Pune in 10 years: Congress candidate Ravindra Dhangekar

How much are you focussing on the upliftment of all the socially, economically and politically deprived groups?

Vasant More: I will take a stand for reservation for the Maratha community in the Lok Sabha. There is no possibility that the BJP or Congress would take up the issue. But because I am a Vanchit myself, I understand the concerns and sorrows of all those who are vanchit and I need them with me. When I say vanchit, I don’t refer to just Dalits. There are vanchits in every community, in Marathas, Muslims, Christians, Brahmins, danghars, etc. I think I can do good work for them.