Juhu Residents ask BJP to back their handpicked candidate

For the first time, the electorate has picked up a contestant and is asking a political outfit to give her a party ticket for the upcoming BMC Polls.

 

From high-rises to shantytowns, Juhu residents have got together to write their own ticket for the upcoming civic polls. They have asked the Bharatiya Janata Party to field a candidate they have picked, reversing the norm of political ensembles asking voters to back their nominee.

 

Over 6 prominent citizen groups from Andheri West have recommended resident Renu Hansraj as a citizen candidate from ward number 69 (former wards 63 and 64). The citizens have assured the party of full support if it fields Hansraj, a 45-year-old freelance interior designer, who is known to be active in the area through her association with Juhu Soul of the City NGO.

 

In a letter to the BJP dated November 9, the citizens said their decision follows several meetings and discussions to finalise a candidate from among citizens, advanced locality managements and non-profits. “We are a united team and have unanimously chosen Ms Renu Hansraj. We would like that she contest as a BJP candidate from ward number 69 and we request you to give her BJP candidature. We will wholeheartedly support it. We trust that you will consider our proposal positively,” the letter says.

 

 

Local BJP legislator Ameet Satam, who is also the party’s district president for Mumbai North West, received the letter on Saturday. “We will consider the request but the final decision will be taken by the party,” said Satam, who himself was chosen by the citizens to fight the 2014 assembly elections.

 

“At the same time, we welcome and appreciate this initiative of the citizens. It’s a very positive development,” he added.