Maharashtra elections 2024: In Vasai, BJP seeks to dethrone Hitendra Thakur

The Opposition has been trying its best to wrest power in the Vasai Assembly constituency where sitting MLA and regional Bahujan Vikas Aghadi BVA supremo Hitendra Thakur has built a strong network of supporters in last three decadesBJP candidate Sneha Dube Pandit has been hoping to dethrone the sitting MLA She has been appealing to the electorate to lsquovote for changersquo in Vasai citing various issues including the water crisis crumbling infrastructures such as hospitals roads no Metro education and tribal apathyThe 38yearold leader is the daughter of tribal activist Vivek Pandit She said she is ldquoVasai chi mulgirdquo daughter of Vasai and someone who knows all the issues local residents are facingHowever Thakur said that people have been voting him to power for years due to the lsquodevelopmentalrsquo work in his constituency The 63yearold Thakur popularly known as Appa is pleased to be called a ldquodabanggrdquo politician but asserts nobody can accuse me of doing politics in the name of religionHitendra Thakur BVAWhy do you think the people will vote you backMy voters are happy because I have been meeting them regularly A few of them said that they need wider roads I have told them you give me the area and I will get funds to improve the infrastructureIf voted back to power what will you developA total of seven projects related to bridges have been approved Also we will get approval from the Indian Railway for four railover bridges ROBs We have got funds approved from MMRDA People in the constituency face a lot of difficulties travelling on MumbaiAhmedabad highway where traffic jams are a major concern due to whitetopping workCorporation election has been pending for yearsWe have been facing a lot of difficulties because if the gutter is not cleaned or garbage is not removed people blame the local MLA Local residents are increasingly turning to us with every small issueHow confident are you that you will win the electionI am confident because I believe in the work Irsquove doneWhat do you have to say about the vote polarisation trick ahead of electionsI have never resorted to polarising voters Unlike others I donrsquot believe in dividing peopleSneha Dube Pandit BJPHow difficult is it for you to give a tough fight to the sitting MLAThere has been a singleparty rule in Vasai for the last 30 years People are now fed up with the sitting MLA and desperately want changeWhat is your core agenda on which you have been appealing to votersPeople have been ignored for even basic needs like potable water healthcare roads education etc Those who are sick prefer going to Mumbai for better treatment because the VVCMC has failed to provide better health care Every monsoon people face waterlogging We will work to resolve the electricity crisis so that an IT park can be made in Vasai This will generate employment for youth We will also try to develop ecotourism You have planned to rid Vasai of tanker mafiaPM Modi has released funds for water connections to all houses but people are still suffering We will definitely make Vasai a tankerfree cityWhy do you think people will vote for youI am a true Vasaikar who knows the ins and outs The sitting MLA is not from Vasai I will carry forward the legacy of my father who did develop Vasai in 2009