The upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections are challenging a common belief. Many people think highly-qualified professionals avoid electoral politics. This election proves otherwise. Several candidates boast impressive academic credentials.
Academic Excellence on the Ballot
These candidates include a PhD graduate from IIT Bombay. This individual worked with the government body CDAC. Later, they served as a professor at Pennsylvania State University in the United States. Another candidate holds an MBA from London Metropolitan University. A third has a doctoral degree in pharmaceutical technology from ICT Matunga.
There is a noticeable presence of double post-graduates and MBA professionals. This trend reflects a growing keenness among professionals. They want to enter politics to make a difference.
Profiles of the Educated Candidates
Urjaswala Vora is fifty-three years old. She earned a doctoral degree in computer science from IIT Bombay. She then taught at a US university for several years. Vora is contesting as an independent candidate in Ward 66. This ward covers parts of Andheri West and Juhu Gully.
"After working for over two decades at a government organisation, I took voluntary retirement," Vora said. "I went to the US to be with my children. I got an opportunity to teach at a university in Pennsylvania for over three years. Though I can resume that work, I wanted to return and serve people here. I have seen the condition of civic schools. I want to work for their betterment."
Candidate Ganesh Awasthi is forty-eight. He contested the 2017 elections as a citizen candidate. He bagged three thousand votes. This time, he is hoping to make a mark on a Congress ticket. He is running in Ward 149, which includes Tilak Nagar, Pestom Sagar, and Chheda Nagar.
Awasthi grew up in a slum pocket in Chembur. He studied in a BMC school. He later earned an MBA from London Metropolitan University on a scholarship. He joined Barclays in the UK but returned when his father fell ill. After his father's demise, he followed in his footsteps and got into social work.
"I understand local problems better than any candidate," Awasthi stated.
More Professionals Joining the Fray
Sewree's Pratik Kamble is thirty-seven. He is a double post-graduate. He holds a Masters in Social Work and an MA in Political Science from Mumbai University. Kamble is contesting from Sewree's Ward 202 on a BSP ticket. He positions himself as a young face with long grassroots exposure. He also claims a clean past and does farming in his Solapur village.
He said his decision to contest is driven by a need. The community needs political leaders on the ground, not just public figures.
Hetal Gala Morvekar is a BJP candidate from Mulund. She earned a PhD from ICT. She quit the pharma industry to join social work some time ago. She received a ticket from Ward 103 in Mulund. The party looked at fielding an educated candidate. She said she is passionate about social work.
Swati Borkar is twenty-nine. She is from Shiv Sena (UBT). She completed her MBA and MCom. She is also into social work. The contestant from Ward 16 in Borivli said the election was a natural choice for her.
Educational Background of Candidates
Nearly a fourth of all candidates are graduates. This makes them the largest educational group, according to affidavits. In contrast, the second-largest cohort is of school dropouts. This highlights a significant shift in the profile of individuals entering Mumbai's civic politics.
