Shinde Navigates Political Turmoil While Pushing Mumbai Development Agenda
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde finds himself in a complex political battle as Mumbai approaches crucial civic elections. He is not only confronting the combined opposition of Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS but also facing challenges from within his own alliance, particularly from BJP members in areas like Navi Mumbai and Ambernath.
Infrastructure Projects Take Center Stage
In a recent interview, Shinde provided updates on key Mumbai development initiatives. He confirmed that the detailed project report for the central park at Mahalaxmi racecourse is complete. The underpass tender is in its final stages, with actual construction set to begin soon.
"A tender for the central park will be floated within 100 days once a Mahayuti mayor is appointed," Shinde stated confidently.
The deputy CM also addressed concerns about his amnesty scheme for buildings lacking occupation certificates. He promised to establish a zone-wise single window clearance system within the BMC to ensure smooth implementation.
"This is a scheme I'm keen to see through," he emphasized, highlighting his personal commitment to the initiative.
Alliance Tensions Surface Publicly
When questioned about allegations from BJP ministers who serve as his cabinet colleagues, Shinde maintained a dismissive stance. "People have been making allegations for three and a half years. I don't pay attention to these things. I focus on my work," he responded.
The seat-sharing negotiations for BMC polls took over a week to finalize, revealing underlying tensions. Shinde clarified that no discussions about power-sharing have occurred yet.
"Our first agenda is to make Mahayuti win," he stated, emphasizing the coalition's priority.
Ambitious Development Vision for Mumbai
Shinde outlined an aggressive development agenda aimed at transforming Mumbai's infrastructure. He criticized previous administrations for governance deficits spanning 25 years.
"We will make up for the governance deficit of 25 years in BMC," he declared, listing several transformative projects:
- Versova-Bhayander sea link
- Goregaon-Mulund Link Road
- Extension of Eastern Freeway
- 'Orange Gate to Marine Drive' tunnel
- New coastal road network resembling ring roads
These initiatives aim to significantly reduce travel time across the city. "People will be able to reach anywhere in minutes, not hours," Shinde promised.
Countering Opposition Allegations
Addressing allegations made by Raj Thackeray against industrialists, Shinde pointed to what he called double standards. He reminded critics about decisions made during Uddhav Thackeray's tenure as chief minister.
"When you are in power, you have one stand and when you are not, you have another. These are double standards," he argued.
Shinde defended current investment policies, stating that lands are not given arbitrarily and tenders follow open processes. He highlighted his decision to extend housing benefits to ineligible residents in Dharavi, contrasting it with previous policies.
Political Dynamics and Election Impact
Regarding the "unfriendly" political fights in Navi Mumbai and Ambernath, where BJP attempted to align with Congress against Shiv Sena, Shinde revealed he maintains regular dialogue with the Chief Minister.
"I have a dialogue with the CM. We speak on everything," he said, acknowledging that even the Chief Minister doesn't agree with certain developments.
Shinde dismissed concerns about these tensions affecting BMC polls, arguing that Mumbai's issues are distinct. He emphasized Prime Minister Modi's vision for Mumbai as crucial to India's economic ambitions.
"PM Modi has said several times that if we have to become the 3rd or 2nd largest economy, Mumbai's contribution is required," Shinde noted, highlighting the Prime Minister's focus on making Mumbai a fintech and audio-visual industry capital.
He criticized the Thackerays for what he called emotional blackmail regarding Marathi identity, particularly concerning the Vadhavan port project. Shinde argued that such projects would create lakhs of jobs through airports and logistic parks.
"People will not vote on emotions but on development. They want amenities," he concluded, framing the upcoming elections as a choice between emotional appeals and tangible progress.
