Aruna Chakravorty

Indian Express Newsline, December 30, 1996

The slim margin between wishful thinking and hope never looked thinner as local leaders try to make the best of what now seems paradise lost.

Kick-starting their election campaigns, though informally and on a low key, even before their parties finalise civic candidates, the corporators are hopeful about their chances despite the dismemberment of their wards.

BJP corporators have released elaborate booklets on their achievements, painstakingly listing out he drains which have been cleared in their five-year term and the chowks which have been renamed.  As in the case of Vidya Thakur, who had been the chairman of the Public Health Committee, some corporates are going to the length of publishing letters from civic administration, BEST and Department of Posts as proof of the hard work undertaken.  Most of these booklets have been sent to each resident in their constituencies.

The corporators are not overtly bothered about the code of conduct of publishing these booklets be included in the total expenses incurred for campaigning.  "From what we understand, these booklets are not individual property but party property.  The party can spend, and in any case, the costs will be taken into account only when the candidature is announced," defended Dr A S Rao, the BJP leader in BMC.  Dr Rao has also released his report card on his term.  "The principle is that we are answerable to our voters," he explained.

In another case, banners have been prepared by a woman Shiv Sainik who is waiting for a ticket.  The Sena high command is scrutinizing biodata of its workers.  For Sena newcomers, the final decision is to be taken by the newly anointed leader, Uddhav Thackeray, who in turn will be looking into the finalists shortlisted by the vibhag pramukhs of each area.

The most interesting developments are being witnessed inwards which are presently held by male corporators but have ben reserved for women for the next term.

The conecpet of 'Proxy ' candidates, as a lot of women candidates in such constituencies are called, is nothing new to the corporation.

The BMC has at least four women corporators in the present body, who were given the ticket in lieu of their husbands after the seats were reserved for the fairer sex.

Some such corporators are Shamal Vinayak Raut, Kokila Dhulla, shubhangi Dashrath Shirke and Sumitra Vinayak Wabale.

There is a strong rumour that Congress corporator Upendra Doshi will be seeking a ticket for his wife in his Jain Society, Sionward no 47, which has been reserved for women.

Doshi dismisses it as hogwash and a media-inspired mischief.  But residents in his ward insist that he is already canvassing for his wife, Rekha.  When asked to comment on such 'Proxy' candidates, he said: "If a corporator's wife knows each of his workers by name and has been associated with her husband's work throughout, then there should be no harm in giving her a ticket.  I am not for a 'rubber stamp' candidate.

Newsline Special
BJP corporators have released booklets on their achievements, painstakingly listing out the drains which have been cleared in their five-year term.