Exclusive | India General Elections 2024: Politicians encourage divide between Gujarati and Marathi communities for their motives, says Gopal Shetty

As counting day approaches, Gopal Shetty, BJP leader and sitting MP from the Mumbai North Constituency, expressed his firm belief that the BJP will emerge as the clear leader. Notably, ahead of the polls, Piyush Goyal was given the ticket to contest from the constituency, which had been held by Shetty for the last two terms.

In an exclusive interview with Mid-Day, Shetty discussed his decision to leave Parliament after serving two terms, his future plans, and the challenges facing upcoming MPs in Mumbai.

How did you enter into politics?
My father was associated with the RSS, but where I grew up, there were no basic necessities like roads, water supply, electricity, or toilets. To help my community obtain these necessities, I started working under the guidance of the then-MLA Ram Naik. He appreciated my work, and eventually, I was given a ticket to contest elections in 1992. Initially, I was hesitant, but I gradually grew fond of the work I did.

Has the BJP changed since you first joined it?
Yes, it definitely has. Any party is bound to change over time if it wants to sustain its power. The needs and mindset of the constituencies change, so the party must also shift gears in its strategies. However, a few core ideologies have remained the same for the BJP.

What are the biggest problems in the Mumbai North Constituency?
Traffic has been a major concern in the Mumbai North constituency, but I am confident that with the Mumbai Coastal Road and the upcoming Metro, this problem will be resolved. Additionally, the SP Road will connect a large span of North Mumbai from Borivali to Bandra.

What do you feel about Piyush Goyal contesting this time instead of you?
I had already decided that I wouldn't be contesting. I believe some of my aspirations for the people have not been fulfilled due to systemic faults. I did not join politics for the glamour of it, but rather to serve my people.

Even though I am not contesting in the elections this time, I remain very much attached to my people and continue working for them.

Piyush Goyal was given the "outsider" tag by the opposition. Do you think that would have affected people's decision?
I was an "outsider" too when I contested my first election. People vote based on the work a candidate has done. He is also associated with the BJP, a party that people prefer. Piyush Goyal is not a new name in politics; he has worked hard and is close to PM Modi. I believe people considered all these factors while voting. I am confident he will win, and we will all work together for the betterment of the city.

Mumbai has recently seen a divide between Gujarati and Marathi communities. What have you noticed in your constituency regarding this?
Politicians encourage this divide for their motives. It doesn't stem from the public. To further PM Modi's vision of making India a superpower, I believe, we must look beyond these divides of caste, religion, and language.

What are the key areas the candidate who wins from the Mumbai North Constituency should focus on?
I firmly believe that Piyush Goyal will win, and during our campaigning, we extensively discussed the problems of slums in this constituency. Half of Mumbai's population resides in slums, which are connected to the rest of the population living in multi-storey buildings. If the lives of the residents in the slums are improved, it will lead to a better overall lifestyle for everyone. It's a shameful fact that half of Mumbai, the financial capital of the country, lives in slums lacking basic necessities of life.

What are your plans for the future since you have stepped away from the MP race?
Even though I am not contesting to be an MP this time, I will continue working not just in my constituency but beyond it. Whoever wins, they may take it with a pinch of salt because I will drive around the bend to work for the people.