Former MP Eknath Gaikwad, who is contesting from the Mumbai South Central seat, went for a stroll at Shivaji Park on Saturday to meet with morning walkers in the Lok Sabha constituency.
Mr. Gaikwad said, “Mornings are the best time to meet all senior citizens as they go for their walks, sit under the trees and discuss politics and the candidates. So I thought going for a walk would help me meet all of them together at one place. I received a very heart warming response from the people of my constituency.”
‘Unfulfilled promises’
Mr. Gaikwad appealed to the walkers to vote for the Congress and bring them to power. He said, “The BJP-led government is in power both at the Centre and the State. However, PM Narendra Modi still hasn’t fulfilled any promises he made to the public in the last five years.”
He added, “Modi ji doesn’t talk about the poor, he only talks about Pakistan, surgical strikes and our soldiers. He is building his vote bank on the work done by our jawans. He has nothing of his own to show to the public.”
Batting for Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Mr. Gaikwad said, “Mr. Gandhi always thinks about the poor and their well being. He has now also promised to deposit ₹6,000 in their bank accounts every month. We will surely fulfil this promise.”
A group of senior citizens told The Hindu , “We have never seen a former MP come and walk with us and talk to us in person. It felt good to see Mr. Gaikwad with us in the morning unlike the other politicians who undertake big rallies these days.”
Mr. Gaikwad has been a three-time MLA from Dharavi and a minister in the State Cabinet. However, he lost to Rahul Shewale of the Shiv Sena in the last term. He said, “We lost to the Shiv Sena because of the Modi wave last time, but this term I am sure that the Modi wave has died down.”
