BMC polls: Guardian minister Ashish Shelar campaigns for 32-year-old media advertiser in Lokhandwala

MUMBAI: State I-T and culture minister and guardian minister (suburbs) Ashish Shelar presided over a campaign meeting for BJP candidate Sayali Kulkarni at a clubhouse in Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri, Sunday evening.

Sayali is contesting from Ward 60 at Thursday's civic election. The 32-year-old media advertising professional is the daughter of RSS leader Raghunath Kulkarni.




The meet was organised by Lions Club of Young Achievers, Rotary Club of North End and Bharat Vikas Parishad.

Shelar promised support to Sayali through her tenure, adding that the party would "use technology and AI to solve all problems". He also took the opportunity to critique former CM Uddhav Thackeray who was conducting a public meeting with cousin Raj Thackeray at Shivaji Park at that very hour.

Sayali spelt out her agenda for an "updated, upgraded lifestyle" for the constituency, including encroachment free roads, evicting "illegal hawkers with fake Aadhaar cards" and transparent administration. She thanked the 'Sanghatan' comprising RSS, BJP and Bajrang Dal for promoting her candidacy across all forums.

Former BJP MLA Bharati Lavekar attended as did BJP-RSS representatives, along with scores of Gujarati, Marwari shop owners and Sindhi businessmen from Lokhandwala who are BJP supporters.

The Sabha did not involve interaction with the audience, although a representative briefly listed issues facing the locality. Dust pollution arising from rampant redevelopment, hawker menace, destruction of mangroves, improper garbage collection -- apart from the 40-year wait for a local fire brigade -- are problems that beset Lokhandwala.

The previous corporator Yogiraj Dabhadkar has been moved to contest neighbouring ward 59 after ward 60 became reserved for women candidates.