Gujaratis and North Indians want more tickets to contest the assembly elections. Both communities have formed pressure groups to make sure their demands are heard by the people who matter.
North Indian leaders associated with the Uttar Bharatiya Morcha called on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh and the party’s Maharashtra in-charge, Kaptan Singh Solanki, in New Delhi, recently.
“We have demanded more tickets for the community to contest the assembly election,” said Surendra Dube, a leader of the morcha. “North Indians comprise 24.7% of Mumbai’s population and 19% of Thane’s. We should get tickets in accordance with this strength.”
North Indians have a major say in constituencies like Andheri (East), Dindoshi, and Charkop. Gujaratis, too, have come together to seek a larger share of power this time. The Gujaratis of Mulund have formed an association, Mulund Gujarati Samaj, to press for their demands.
“The Gujaratis are one of the most neglected communities in Mumbai,” said Vasantkumar Majethia, an official of the association. “Every political party cares about us only for about 15 days during every election. After that they simply forget us. We are not expecting anything extra from the parties, but we think that we should get our legitimate rights. For that we have come together.”
Majethia said the association will soon approach Gujaratis residing in other parts of the city, too. The Gujarati media has been writing on how the community is being ignored by political parties. The Gujaratis are dominant in Mulund, Ghatkopar and Borivli. In Mulund alone, the percentage of Gujarati voters is as high as 40.
