Parties scan report cards

MUMBAI: With barely a few months left for the BMC elections, political parties have geared up to review the performance of sitting councillors. With several changes in the system like the implementation of women’s reservation, political parties have decided to diligently screen candidates. From sending observers to the wards to checking their participation in the civic house, political parties are keen to project a “corporate” style of functioning.
The NCP started the review process a few months ago. Unlike other parties, where sitting councillors have been asked to send their performance report or “report card”, the NCP has sent observers to the wards of sitting councillors to check their performance in the last five years. “The observers will check how much work has been done. This process will prevent councillors from fudging about work done by them in their wards. The headquarters will review the performance and then issue tickets for the next elections,” said group leader of NCP and standing committee member, Niyaz Vanu. The NCP also plans to make some category type arrangements of wards—safe councillors who are likely to win again and wards where the party needs to focus more.
Congress corporator Sameer Desai said, “We have not received any circular but in all likelihood, councillors will have to submit their performance report. The party is educating workers about the polls.” For screening candidates, the party will rely on the performance report, which will look into the implementation of schemes and participation in civic issues.
The BJP has already started working on the report cards of sitting councillors. The report is likely to reach the headquarters in 15 days. BJP group leader, Ashish Shelar, said, “I am looking into the councillors’ performance. We are also checking their attendance in the civic house and their performance at the ward level.”
The Shiv Sena has taken the performance report very seriously, with executive president Uddhav Thackeray shooting a letter to leader of the House Sunil Prabhu, asking him to draw up the performance of all sitting corporators. Standing committee chairman Rahul Shewale said, “We have been asked to inform the party about the projects we have undertaken in our ward.”