Prakash Surve Connects with Adivasi Voters Ahead of Elections | Mumbai News – Times of India
Mumbai: Prakash Surve, the Shiv Sena nominee, visited the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) to discuss Birsa Munda Jayanti (tribal pride day celebration) arrangements with Adivasi Pada inhabitants inside the park, representing about 3,000 voters, but not before the election officials conducted a thorough inspection of his vehicle and escorts, allowing entry only at around 12 noon. Most of the Pada comes under the Magathane assembly constituency.
During his visit, Surve paused to have a fruit plate within the park. A fruit seller at SGNP commented, “Dada was always there for us and he was a great help during Covid.” Surve spoke about his enduring relationship with the ‘adivasis’ residing in these Pada, noting his advocacy for vendor adivasis’ rights within SGNP to support their income.
Surve stated, “Whether it’s Adivasi Pada, or other areas of my constituency (comprising slums, buildings, and posh localities), I go everywhere to understand the issues and get them resolved, and have a personal connection with people.”
Surve made a change in his schedule at Adivasi Pada, to attend his next commitment. His day was packed, including organising his largest election campaign event where Chief Minister Eknath Shinde would address constituents in the evening.
The constituency, traditionally a Shiv Sena and MNS stronghold, has approximately 55% Maharashtrian population. Following the Shiv Sena split, Surve, who represented the constituency since 2014, aligned with CM Eknath Shinde. He faces competition from MNS’s Nayan Kadam and Shiv Sena-UBT’s Udesh Patekar.
After telephone consultations, Surve’s convoy proceeded toward a residential complex at Thakur Village for a meeting in a school premises with local residents. Roughly 200 attendees greeted him with Jai Shri-Ram chants. The gathering included numerous RSS and BJP members from the area. School trustee Rakesh Singh of Thakur Group spoke first, pledging family support and requesting maximum votes for Surve. His uncle Ramesh Singh won the neighbouring constituency on a Congress ticket in 2009, but lost to BJP subsequently. Ramesh Singh switched to BJP after his 2014 defeat.
A senior RSS member of the North-Indian community commented, “We are helping Surve in the campaign at our level to ensure his win, as we don’t want Maharashtra to become the next Kerala or West Bengal. Our organisation is working at its own level to garner support for him.”
Surve requested each of the gathered crowd to pull out a maximum number of their neighbours and friends to cast their votes.
During his visit, Surve paused to have a fruit plate within the park. A fruit seller at SGNP commented, “Dada was always there for us and he was a great help during Covid.” Surve spoke about his enduring relationship with the ‘adivasis’ residing in these Pada, noting his advocacy for vendor adivasis’ rights within SGNP to support their income.
Surve stated, “Whether it’s Adivasi Pada, or other areas of my constituency (comprising slums, buildings, and posh localities), I go everywhere to understand the issues and get them resolved, and have a personal connection with people.”
Surve made a change in his schedule at Adivasi Pada, to attend his next commitment. His day was packed, including organising his largest election campaign event where Chief Minister Eknath Shinde would address constituents in the evening.
The constituency, traditionally a Shiv Sena and MNS stronghold, has approximately 55% Maharashtrian population. Following the Shiv Sena split, Surve, who represented the constituency since 2014, aligned with CM Eknath Shinde. He faces competition from MNS’s Nayan Kadam and Shiv Sena-UBT’s Udesh Patekar.
After telephone consultations, Surve’s convoy proceeded toward a residential complex at Thakur Village for a meeting in a school premises with local residents. Roughly 200 attendees greeted him with Jai Shri-Ram chants. The gathering included numerous RSS and BJP members from the area. School trustee Rakesh Singh of Thakur Group spoke first, pledging family support and requesting maximum votes for Surve. His uncle Ramesh Singh won the neighbouring constituency on a Congress ticket in 2009, but lost to BJP subsequently. Ramesh Singh switched to BJP after his 2014 defeat.
A senior RSS member of the North-Indian community commented, “We are helping Surve in the campaign at our level to ensure his win, as we don’t want Maharashtra to become the next Kerala or West Bengal. Our organisation is working at its own level to garner support for him.”
Surve requested each of the gathered crowd to pull out a maximum number of their neighbours and friends to cast their votes.
