In a significant strategic shift ahead of the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) elections, the Shiv Sena has decided to field fresh, young candidates, including a medical professional, in key electoral panels. This move signals the party's attempt to connect with voters through new faces and professional expertise.
A Doctor Enters the Political Fray
One of the most notable young entrants is Dr Pooja Sanjay Gaikwad, an MBBS graduate from DY Patil College in Navi Mumbai. She is contesting from Panel 13-B, which falls under the Kalyan East area. This region is widely recognized as one of the city's largest slum-dominated zones, where basic civic issues are a primary concern for voters.
Panel 13 has been jointly allotted to the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance. The alliance has backed four candidates from this panel. Alongside Dr Gaikwad from Shiv Sena, the BJP nominees are Saroj Manoj Rai and Vikram Tare. Shiv Sena has also fielded Mahadev Raibole from the same panel, making it a multi-cornered contest within the alliance framework.
Healthcare and Water Supply: Core Campaign Planks
Dr Pooja Gaikwad has positioned her medical background at the center of her campaign. She highlights that the area she seeks to represent faces severe challenges, particularly concerning women's health, access to clean drinking water, and basic medical services.
"If elected, I will work with a special focus on women's health. Clean drinking water is a major issue here, and I will make concerted efforts to replace old pipelines with new ones," Dr Gaikwad stated. She emphasized that the KDMC requires substantial improvements in its public healthcare infrastructure and vowed to use her professional expertise to strengthen health services, especially for residents in slum areas.
A High-Stakes Contest in Panel 13-B
Dr Pooja Gaikwad's candidature is being projected as a blend of youth, professional knowledge, and grassroots engagement. She is the daughter of builder Sanjay Gaikwad, but her campaign is squarely focused on civic issues.
She faces a direct challenge from Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Sandhya Tare. Other UBT nominees in the panel include Sneha Tiwari, Madhur Mhatre, and Kirti Dhone. With pressing local issues like healthcare, water supply, and basic amenities dominating voter concerns, the contest in Panel 13-B is shaping up to be a closely watched political battle in the upcoming KDMC elections.
The alliance's decision to field a young doctor underscores the increasing importance of credible, issue-based representation in urban civic polls, particularly in underserved regions like Kalyan East.
