The Aam Aadmi Party decision to field Narmada Bachao Andolan leader and activist Medha Patkar from Mumbai’s Northeast Lok Sabha constituency is likely to increase troubles for the Nationalist Congress Party.
The seat is now held by NCP MP Sanjay Dina Patil. Ms. Patkar, last month, announced her full-fledged support to the Aam Aadmi Party. At the time she said she would extend only outside support.
She has been active in the Northeast constituency through her several agitations for the slum dwellers. The constituency has large number of slums in Mankhurd, Govandi and Deonar. The seat is divided into pockets of Gujarati, Muslim and Dalit population, along with sizeable Marathi voters.
Ms. Patkar told The Hindu that the main agenda of her campaign would remain corruption by the established parties. “I took this decision after consultation with various organisations. The AAP is raising the issues which we always wanted to raise and hence I found this party a good platform,” she said.
Ms. Patkar said that since she had worked in the constituency for many years, she was aware of the issues there.
NCP unfazed The NCP is apparently not bothered about her entry into electoral politics. “Why should I be afraid of her? I rather welcome her entry into active politics,” said Mr. Patil. He said Ms. Patkar had always remained outside the system while raising various issues. “Let her contest elections. But I am sure that our party will win,” he said.
Party sources, meanwhile, speculate that Ms. Patkar is likely to project the NCP MP’s inability to address issues related to slums and his absence from the constituency.
