In a symbolic move, the Congress party and its alliance partner from the Republican Party of India (RPI) chose the footpath opposite the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters to release their common manifesto for the upcoming municipal elections on Tuesday. The event underscored their focus on grassroots issues, moving away from the traditional air-conditioned halls.
Core Promises: Health, Transport, and a Cleaner City
The manifesto places a strong emphasis on revitalising Mumbai's public infrastructure. A central and unequivocal pledge is that no civic hospital will be privatised. The alliance committed to strengthening the public health system by upgrading BMC hospitals to provide 24-hour services, affordable surgeries, and improved facilities for MRI, CT scans, dialysis, and ICU care.
On transportation, the plan focuses on making public transit more people-centric. Key proposals include introducing feeder bus services from metro stations and revamping the BEST undertaking with a fleet of over 6,000 buses. The document also addresses environmental concerns, promising strict control of construction dust and measures to reduce traffic pollution for a cleaner city.
Inclusive Development and Candidate Selection
Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad, who released the manifesto alongside party MLAs Amin Patel and Aslam Shaikh, AICC secretary Sachin Sawant, and Rajendra Gawai from an RPI faction, stated the party's mission was to ensure inclusive development for all communities, castes, and religions. She said the manifesto aimed to amplify the voice of Mumbaikars in addressing civic issues.
Explaining the unconventional venue, Sachin Sawant said the issues in the manifesto relate directly to common people, hence it was released among them. He accused opposition parties of divisive politics and presented the alliance's vision, defining 'MUMBAI' as an acronym for 'Unity', 'Mobility', 'Brotherhood', 'And', 'Inclusive development'.
MLA Amin Patel highlighted the party's approach to candidate selection, noting that tickets were given to socially active individuals with no political background and financially moderate means, aiming to represent the common person.
Water, Education, and Support for the Poor
The manifesto outlines several other critical promises. The Congress pledged to work towards improving the city's water supply to 5,000 million litres per day (MLD). It also promises to reopen Marathi and BMC schools, ensuring better educational access.
Rajendra Gawai, whose RPI faction is contesting four seats in alliance with the Congress, emphasised the benefits for the underprivileged. He stated that the promised health infrastructure and a proposed medical card would be a great help for poor families, for whom any medical emergency causes severe financial stress.
Additional commitments in the document include robust waste management, ensuring clean air, and the immediate implementation of the Street Vendor Act to establish proper hawker zones across Mumbai.
