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Journalism of Courage
They come in all hues. Contractors, builders, a plastic tootbrush manufacturer and even the chairperson of the Maharshtra State Commission for Women have all been camping in Delhi over the last week vying for a Congress ticket for the Assembly polls in Maharashtra.
They spent their time hanging around AICC headquarters or were in Maharashtra Sadan for a meal and much needed rest. According to some aspirants, an MLA ticket is a sure shot for riches — transfers, contracts and favours. ‘‘The ticket may be one, but the contenders are ten,’’ said Vilas Dhenge from Tumsar, Vidharba.
A ‘government’ contractor, he admitted: ‘‘Politics mein rahenge toh kaam milega humko (If I am in politics, I will get work).’’ While Dhenge highlighted his work as vice-president of the Congress taluka unit, he added that being a member of the OBC, it should work in his favour. Maharashtra Women’s Commission chairperson Nirmala Samant Prabhavalkar and Commission member Vijaya Bangde are both contenders for tickets. Prabhavalakar has ‘‘been very busy the last few days here in the city pleading her case before the several screening committees’’. As the chairperson of the state commission, she said, her chances for a ticket are strong this time around, as ‘‘injustice was done to me’’ in 1999. She added: ‘‘So they gave me this post of Chairperson as compensation.’’
An ex-mayor and councillor, she said, her work as chairperson will help her contest for a ticket from Bandra West or Malad.
Bangde is a contender for the Chandrapura constituency and felt that ‘‘as per the promise of women’s reservation, women should be given priority’’.
For 73-year-old Vasant Rao Itkelwar, his work in active politics would culminate when son Vinod gets his ticket. Apart from his father’s credentials, Vinod’s ‘‘work’’ entails running the 150 acres of plantation and fish farms. ‘‘My father is the sitting Independent MLA, if he had been eligible I would not have been a contender,’’ Vinod said.
Also setting up camp at Maharashtra Sadan are Raja Dronkar and Vinay Kulkarni. Dronkar said he represents the Buddhist community and owns a company involved in building roads, bridges and PWD construction work.
Unlike the others, Kulkarni doesn’t boast of a political lineage. A first time contestant, he says he is ‘‘fighting for the representation of the Maharashtrian Brahmins’’. A manufacturer of plastic toothbrushes with Rs 6-crore turnover, he wants to secure the rights of his community who have been ignored for the past 20 years.
Apart from the 15 years of ‘‘relentless’’ party work, Seema Yerpede’s (seeking the Nagpur West ticket) claim to fame is — ‘‘I was the first one to burn Pramod Mahajan’s effigy at Variety chowk, for using derogatory words against Madam’’. A Ganapati devotee, she hopes the God’s blessings will secure her a Congress party ticket.
