Jitendra Awhad says, 'Ajit’s workers telling Mumbra residents to opt for NOTA'

NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad. File pic/Satej Shinde

In a bid to prevent the Shiv Sena (UBT) from gaining the upper hand in the Kalyan Lok Sabha constituency's Muslim-dominated area, Mumbra, a group of NCP (Ajit Pawar) and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) leaders have allegedly been promoting the NOTA (None of the above) option for the past month. More than two lakh Mumbra residents belong to the minority community, which has largely warmed up to Uddhav Thackeray, posing a threat to the Mahayuti.

According to sources, leaders promoting NOTA claimed that the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Vaishali Darekar was a member of the Sena faction responsible for demolishing the Babri Masjid and supporting such a candidate was not right. However, meetings were held at mosques across Mumbra to create awareness among the masses about the importance of choosing candidates who are with the community and whose primary concerns are inflation and employment.

During a recent public gathering held as part of Darekar's campaign, NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad said a few people were misleading and confusing people of Mumbra. The three-time legislator appealed to residents to vote for the candidate who would work for them.

Awhad told mid-day, "Workers from the Ajit Pawar faction were found to be promoting NOTA. This is a political move to impact the minority vote. Why are they not telling residents directly to vote for the BJP or NDA? They can't say this. Because they know that not only the Muslim community but also Marathi-speakers are against the BJP and are supporting the INDIA bloc. The people can't be confused and are very much aware of whom to choose."

‘Fascists are afraid'

Jaffar Shaikh, a local activist said, "NOTA is being promoted only in Muslim areas because the BJP and their allies are scared of people coming out to vote out fascist forces to save the Constitution and rights of every citizen. Those who are promoting NOTA in Muslim areas are doing so through word of mouth instead of pamphlets. I urge every citizen to come out in large numbers and vote against fascism, communalism and hatred to save the Constitution and our country.".

Hasan Mulani, a social worker from Mumbra, said, "During the 2019 Lok Sabha election, around 1,500 to 2,000 people voted for NOTA, including me, as [NCP candidate] Babaji Patil, a one-time corporator was running against Shinde. This time, too, a similar mistake has been made as two-time corporator Vaishali Darekar has been given the ticket. She has fought a Lok Sabha election before [in 2009, as an MNS candidate] and secured one lakh votes. She later joined the Shiv Sena. Whether she is trustworthy is the question. But instead of wasting the vote, many will go with INDIA as we are voting against inflation, unemployment and prejudice. The people don't like traitors. They will choose the right candidate."

Arsheen Raut, a former NCP corporator from Mumbra, said, "Choosing a candidate is a responsibility. Some people are saying if the MVA had given the ticket to a secular leader like Jitendra Awhad, they would have supported INDIA in large numbers instead of voting for the candidate of Thackeray.

102,063
Votes polled by Vaishali Darekar in 2009