Upset north Indians decide not to vote for BJP

VASHI: A section of north Indians led by their leaders, who have voted for BJP in Lok Sabha and assembly elections are upset with the saffron party as it failed to give ticket to aspirants of the community wishing to contest NMMC elections.

Many north Indians joined BJP and conducted several events to strengthen the party in the city after the party candidate Manda Mhatre won the Belapur assembly seat but the party has reportedly denied ticket to the community’s candidates for NMMC polls Annoyed with this, a delegation of north Indians met Mhatre and BJP’s Navi Mumbai unit president CV Reddy at the party office in Vashi and raised the issue.

The delegation was told that senior party leaders finalised list of candidates contesting the civic body polls, so the local leadership cannot do anything. The delegation was assured that the community candidates would be considered for appointment to transport, ward committees of NMMC after the elections.

Not satisfied the community leaders led by Hindi Bhasha Seva Samiti held a meeting to discuss the issue.

At the meet, the participants decided not to vote for BJP in the civic body polls. “Twenty-five per cent voters in the city are north Indians but the BJP has not given ticket to community candidates in the civic body elections. We will not vote for BJP in the elections,” said advocate Ramesh Tripathi of Hindi Bhasha Seva Samiti.

Stating that a north Indian has been given ticket in Digha, Mhatre said, “We had limited seats and we have tried to accommodate all sections including a north India. We cannot possibly give seats to all ”

WE HAD LIMITED SEATS. WE HAVE TRIED TO ACCOMMODATE ALL SECTIONS INCLUDING NORTH INDIA. WE CANNOT GIVE SEATS TO ALL

MANDA MHATRE, BJP MLA