Rohit Pawar takes a stroll through Worli Koliwada’s lanes and issues

MUMBAI: A walk on Worli seaface turned into an unexpected Sunday evening outing for MLA Rohit Pawar, grand-nephew of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar. The MLA from Karjat-Jamkhed paid a surprise visit to Worli Koliwada and spent almost three hours in the fishing enclave, which falls under the assembly constituency of Aaditya Thackeray of the Shiv Sena.
Pawar interacted with residents, criss-crossing slum pockets, nullahs and even trekking to the top of Worli Fort, an area that was once a Covid-19 hot spot.Pawar had heard that many families from western Maharashtra, including some from Ahmednagar, lived in Worli Koliwada, having moved there in the early 1970s.
“It was a pleasant surprise for us. We recognised him after a while. Since he was wearing a mask, it was not easy to spot him. We have been following his speeches and activities on social media. It was totally unexpected that he would come inside the Koliwada and go right in. Hardly any neta has come this far,” Ameet Jagtap, a resident who turned guide for Pawar and showed him the enclave, said.
Once home to the city’s first containment zone, Worli Koliwada has had no containment zone all of December.
Pawar also shook a leg with the local Astik Band that was practising on Sunday evening to evergreen Bollywood tunes.
“We did not figure out that it was Rohit Pawar for almost 10 minutes. But when I heard that he was here, I rushed and took him to my house. He came inside and spoke to my family about our problems and basic issues. It was very surprising and unexpected. But it’s great that he actually visited the Koliwada,” Balu Sathe, NCP local taluka president from the area, said.
Pawar, who is known to take unexpected detours during his visits, said he was asked by a Worli Koliwada resident to visit the enclave when he was walking on Worli sea face on Sunday. “I told him I will come and so I just went there. It was not planned. I was surprised to see there are over 150 families who hail from Ahmednagar district and many families have roots in my constituency too. They briefed me on issues they face. Many have received notices to shift as Worli Fort beautification work is going to start. I have offered to support them,” Pawar said.
“As I went unannounced, I got a first hand account of how life goes on in the Koliwada. I got the real picture and it was a learning experience,” he said.
The visit comes at a time when there is talk of a possible alliance between the Sena and NCP for the 2022 BMC election.