Crorepatis Beg For Your Vote
A motley crew of hopefuls is vying for your vote in the BMC elections-from filthy rich crorepatis to a candidate who claims to have only a hut to his name, from a lakhpati who has no source of income to a man whose assets include 63 buffaloes.
Mumbai: A whole range of people-from crorepatis to the almost penniless, professionals to one-time gangsters-are vying for your valuable vote, which will decide not only their fate but that of the city over the next five years.
From a Std II pass to an M.Phil, all these candidates hope to one day wield the power that comes with membership in the BMC House. We know not what they wish to do with this clout, but hope they use it to ensure us better roads, flood-free monsoons, 24/7 water and, in general, a much-improved quality of life in the congested metropolis.
The 3,586 candidates who have filed their nominations for the 2007 BMC polls have declared their assets in affidavits submitted to the election office. There are over a dozen crorepatis in the fray. Rajesh Sharma, of the BJP, has declared a whopping Rs 23 crore in joint assets. He says he is from a traditionally rich and landed family. “I am a landlord and, for the record, I have not taken any bribe, not even Rs 5, from anybody in my constituency,” he said.
Sharma is followed by Amin Patel of the Congress, who has declared his worth to be a cool Rs 12 crore. Patel has declared over Rs 17 lakh in bank balances and over a crore in LIC policies.
While some candidates are from moneyed backgrounds, others say they worked hard to earn their money. Still others perhaps benefitted from their association with the municipal corporation, even though actual membership in the BMC House promises few financial rewards. A corporator earns no salary, only an honorarium of Rs 4,000 per month, a maximum allowance of Rs 600 and gets a bus pass.
Advocate Ashish Shelar, a BJP candidate who has completed a term as corporator, said that both he and his wife have been professionals for 12 years. He has declared assets worth over a crore. “It is my hard-earned money and I pay both income-tax and professional tax. So I see nothing wrong in showing what I have,” he said.
Prabhakar Shinde, the Shiv Sena’s three-time corporator, former Standing Committee chairman and ex-leader of the House, has declared himself a crorepati with investments in hotels. Yet he still needed to take a loan of Rs 1.6 lakh from his mother.
Interestingly, Sanjay Potnis, a Shiv Sena candidate from Santa Cruz (East), says he has no source of livelihood, but does own a Qualis and a Toyota besides property worth Rs 29 lakh.
In contrast, Dastgir Shaikh from Baiganwadi, Govandi, has declared his assets to be Rs 200 in cash. He still managed to paid the application fee, which was Rs 200.
The Akhil Bharatiya Sena’s (ABS) 23-year-old Geeta Gawli, daughter of underworld don-turned-politician Arun Gawli, has declared assets worth Rs 35 lakh, while Gawli’s close associate Sunil Ghate is worth a lot more, Rs 1.05 crore. All Ghate’s property is in Pune, including a 15,000-square-foot house.
In terms of wealth, the Sena’s Mangesh Satamkar has been left far behind by colleagues like Ravindra Waikar. Satamkar is worth a poor Rs 2 lakh and drives a Rs 40,000 Ambassador. Waikar owns the Matoshri Club and is worth more than a crore.
Some of the unusual disclosures include that of Sunil Rammilan Rai, 29. The owner of 63 buffaloes is contesting as an independent. A paanwallah, Kennedy D’Souza, is contesting through the ABS. A 24-year-old, Ashwin Mistry, said he owns only a 10gm gold chain. A LOOK AT SOME OF THE PEOPLE PROMISING TO GIVE US BETTER ROADS AND DRAINS, CLEANER STREETS AND MORE WATER
Rajesh Sharma Rs 23 crore BJP Former deputy mayor Rajesh Sharma has declared
joint assets worth a total of Rs 23 crore. His election affidavit also declares that Rs 5.75 crore of these assets are solely in his name. He is contesting from the MIDC area of Andheri and says he is a landlord by profession. He says his property has been inherited. Sharma says he is proud of never taking a bribe.
Amin Patel Rs 12 crore Congress Amin Patel is a sitting corporator who has declared that he is worth a cool Rs 12 crore. Patel, who will be contesting on a Congress ticket from Kamathipura, has declared a bank balance of Rs 17.5 lakh and LIC policies worth Rs 1.48 crore. For transport though, he has just one car, a Toyota Corolla.
Gunwant Sheth Rs 3.32 crore Congress Gunwant Sheth has declared that he is worth Rs 3.32 crore. A 1,300-square-foot flat on Forjett Hill in south Mumbai itself contributes Rs 1.95 crore to his grand total. This thrice-elected Congress corporator owns one scooter, one Maruti car and one Honda city. He is a real-estate broker and rents out huge utensils for
weddings. He is contesting from the Breach Candy-Malabar Hill area.
Prabhakar Shinde Rs 2.29 crore Shiv Sena Prabhakar Shinde of the Shiv Sena is the former leader of the BMC House, which is a position of great power. The sitting corporator, who is again contesting from Mulund, has declared that he has amassed wealth worth Rs 2.29 crore. He has declared an Innova car worth Rs 8 lakh, which is in his wife’s name. Curiously, under the liabilities section, this crorepati has mentioned a loan of Rs 1.6 lakh-taken from his mother.
Mahindra Singh Rs 1.5 crore NCP This man surely knows how to get around in style. Mahindra Singh, 51, of Poisar Village, Malad, has declared that he owns four vehicles, including a Honda City. His son, meanwhile, drives a Hyundai Accent. In all, this NCP candidate has declared that he is worth a total Rs 1.5 crore. His assets are said to include properties, bonds and cash.
Hareshwar Patil Rs 1.13 crore Congress Former mayor Hareshwar Patil of the Shiv Sena has declared assets worth Rs 1.13 crore. This 66-year-old candidate from Dahisar has declared a Honda city car in his name and a Qualis vehicle in his wife’s name. Patil was once in the line of fire when he faced accusations of CRZ violations in Dahisar.
Sunil Ghate Rs 1.05 crore Akhil Bharatiya Sena Sunil Ghate is the only sitting corporator from former don-turned-politician Arun Gawli’s Akhil Bharatiya Sena. Ghate has declared that he has assets worth a total of Rs 1.05 crore. Interestingtly, Gawli’s own daughter, who is also a hopeful, has declared that she is worth just Rs 35 lakh. Ghate is currently behind bars
in Arthur Road jail in an extortion case and will ironically contest from the ward the jail falls in.
Ravindra Waikar Over a crore Shiv Sena Ravindra Waikar of the Shiv Sena has declared over a crore worth of assets. These assets include a Santro and Innova cars, two apartments, a laundry and a medical store. He has a Rs 6 lakh stake in the sprawling, private Supreme Club at Jogeshwari. Waikar is the current chairperson of the powerful Standing Committee of the BMC.
Sonia Gill Over a crore CPI-M Sonia Gill is a well-known social activist whose wealth comes mainly from two flats, one worth Rs 25 lakh in Delhi and another worth Rs 60 lakh in Bandra. Gill, who has completed her M.Phil, is contesting from Ward 61 in Andheri. Gill works with the All India Democratic Women’s Association.
Ashish Shelar Over a crore BJP Advocate Ashish Shelar is a BJP candidate and has already completed a term as a corporator. He says both he and his wife have been professionals for 12 years. His wealth comes mainly from owning two flats, worth Rs 40 lakh each.
Anjali Parade: Congress candidate from ward no 116 (Powai). She is a doctor by profession and has assets worth Rs 2 crore.
HAVE-NOT HOPEFULS Dastgir Shaikh Rs 200 Dastgir Shaikh, 44, could be the poorest candidate. Shaikh, who has filed his nomination as an independent from Govandi, says he has only Rs 200 in cash. He stays in the Kamlabai Zopadpatti, but the house is not in his name. Shaikh studied upto Std IV in Karnataka. Nitin Dubhawade Rs 500 Coming a close second is Nitin Dubhawade, 27, who says his assets are Rs 500. The candidate from Mulund Check Naka has left the slot for occupation blank on his form. He is contesting independently. Kirti Mandar More Rs 1,000 Kirti Mandar More, 29, seems a little better off. The MA in economics from the University of Mumbai has Rs 1,000 in cash. More resides at Mitra Sangam Co-operative Society with her parents and is contesting Mahim (E). Arvind Padiyal A hut All that Arvind Padiyal owns is a hut at Kandivali as per his affidavit. Padiyal has four
children.