Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Jan 6: A temple corridor connecting Mumbadevi, Babulnath, Mahalaxmi and Siddhivinayak temples will be developed to promote religious tourism in Mumbai, BJP Mumbai Mahamantri Pavan Tripathi has said.

Speaking to a leading daily, Tripathi, who has been closely involved in the selection of candidates for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, expressed confidence that the Mahayuti alliance would win around 150 seats, with the BJP securing more than 100.

Dismissing claims of a Marathi versus non-Marathi divide, Tripathi said the BJP has consistently worked for the Marathi Manoos, citing the redevelopment of BDD chawls as a key example. He alleged that forcing the Marathi Manoos out of Mumbai was a “sin” committed by former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.

Responding to concerns over fewer tickets for North Indian candidates, Tripathi said 21 seats had been allotted to North Indians and denied any discrimination. “All tickets were given after considering every criterion, and we are hopeful that all our candidates will win,” he said.

Tripathi said the election is being fought on the issues of security and development. He claimed that after 2014, Mumbai has become a much safer city, contrasting it with the past when frequent bomb blasts had earned it the label of a ‘Bomb Blast City’. He added that women, including those from the Muslim community, would vote for the Mahayuti primarily on the issue of security, and not just because of schemes like the Ladki Bahin Yojana, as families suffer the most when members are lost to such attacks.

On encroachments, Tripathi said the BJP’s efforts to raise awareness about infiltrators and illegal settlements have helped curb their spread, particularly in areas like Malwani in Malad West. He reiterated the party’s commitment to a slum-free Mumbai, stating that it would help reduce crime and drug addiction.

Tripathi said the BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ (manifesto) would be released in the coming days and would focus on upgrading civic hospitals and schools, along with welfare measures for women. He also supported the removal of encroachments on footpaths and their widening to ensure smooth pedestrian movement.

Warning of action against corruption, Tripathi said those involved in irregularities in the BMC over the last 25 years would not be spared. “Investigations are underway and the culprits will be punished,” he said.