Member of Parliament: Arvind Sawant
BL 28-12-2015 MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA: (FOR FILE) Member of Parliament, Arvind Sawant . Pic by SHASHI ASHIWAL
Constituency: Mumbai South
Political party: Shiv Sena
Votes won in 2014: 3,74,609
Winning margin: 1,28,564
Second rank candidate/ party: Milind Deora / Congress
Utilisation of MPLAD funds: All ₹25 crore spent, as per Sawant, on works ranging from garden beautification to a state-of-the-art ambulance for the Sir JJ Group of hospitals. The works include providing funds for gymnasiums, computers to schools and colleges, and motorbikes to persons with disabilities.
Attendance: 98%
Questions asked in Parliament: 479
Parliamentary Committees they worked on: Committees on Estimates, and Petroleum & Natural Gas
Private Members’ Bills introduced: 1
Self-assessment:
“An MP’s job is not limited to spending MPLAD funds, but more about paying attention to policy decisions. I … spent [the funds] wherever deemed fit, but my work should not be judged based only on that. I have been constantly asking questions, participating in debates in Lok Sabha.”
Future plans, if re-elected:
“I repeat that it is not about one project or another that as an MP I will work upon. I will continue contributing to the national discourse, policy making and taking up issues important for the constituency. One should not limit an MP to his constituency, it is a much bigger responsibility — that of a nation.”
Opposition rating:
Congress leader Milind Deora said, “Sawant’s tenure as MP was sadly unimpressive… There is not a single development project in South Mumbai that can be attributed to him… His party rules the [BMC] and is partners in the State and the Central government. With such massive political influence, [he] failed to resolve problems faced by tenants, traders, SMEs … and corporate India.”
Civil society view:
Noted activist Indrani Malkani said, “As a normal voter of Mumbai South, I found Arvind Sawant easy to approach and ready to listen to our issues. I intend not to favour him or anything, but I never found problem in accessing him. I am not the one to make political comment, but MPs in Mumbai South have always been approachable for me.”
Member of Parliament: Gopal Shetty
BL 28-12-2015 MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA: (FOR FILE) Member of Parliament, Gopal Shetty . Pic by SHASHI ASHIWAL
Constituency: Mumbai North
Political party: BJP
Votes won in 2014: 6,64,004
Winning margin: 3,80,000
Second rank candidate/ party: Sanjay Nirupam/ Congress
Utilisation of MPLAD funds: ₹21.16 crore was spent on development of gardens, roads and parks such as Abdul Kalam Azad Forest Garden in Malad, and the road at Gurudwara Sai Baba Park in Evershine Nagar. Around ₹5.3 crore — of the total allocation of ₹26.4 crore (with interest) — remained unspent.
Attendance: 100%
Questions asked in Parliament: 450
Parliamentary Committees they worked on: Joint Committees on Bill to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, and Enforcement of Security Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws and Miscellaneous
Private Members’ Bills introduced: 30
Self-assessment:
“Most of MPLAD funds were spent on providing services and comfort to the poor and marginalised in the constituency. My focus is and was small works aimed at bettering the lives of common man rather than the big grand projects, which do not benefit many.”
Future plans, if re-elected:
“I would like to work on the problem of housing in the constituency. There are several projects under the slum schemes, which are stuck due to red tape, I would work to resolve them. As much as the media opposes my drive against protection of open space, next term too would be dedicated to preserving green spaces.”
Opposition rating:
Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam said, “From the time Mr. Shetty’s term has begun, no major development has taken place even as people remained in dire need of housing and other amenities. He has been a failure and disaster from all points of view. Not only has he encroached upon 13 municipal plots, but he also does not visit slums … He has worked only for builders and cronies.”
Civil society view:
Reji Abraham, activist and member of the High Court monitored Committee for Conservation of Mangroves, said, “Mr. Shetty’s … modus operandi has been to mark open and green spaces as amenities and encroach upon them by using MPLAD …There are 13 plots taken over directly and indirectly by him and his cronies.”
Member of Parliament: Poonam Mahajan
Hyderabad, Telangana, 28-10-2018: BJP National President Amit Shah and BJYM national president Poonam Mahajan at the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) National Convention in Hyderabad. Photo: K.V.S. Giri / The Hindu
Constituency: Mumbai North Central
Political party: BJP
Votes won in 2014: 4,78,535
Winning margin: 1,86,000
Second rank candidate/ party: Priya Dutt/ Congress
Utilisation of MPLAD funds: Nearly 99% of the ₹25 crore used, claims Mahajan, on constructing 1,428 public toilets, community halls, paver blocks in societies, indoor and open gymnasiums, individual household latrines in slums, temples, beautification of gardens, among others.
Attendance: 79%
Questions asked in Parliament: 444
Parliamentary Committees worked on: Consultative Committee on Finance and Corporate Affairs, Committee on Private Members’ Bills and Resolutions
Private Members’ Bills introduced: 9
Self-assessment:
“I tried to create an ecosystem where people can share if they are unhappy with me … I will strive towards increasing the number of questions asked and Private Member’s Bills moved. I’m happy I have utilised 99% of my fund. My [predecessor] had left a substantial amount unused.”
Future plans, if re-elected:
“I will continue analysing people’s problems practically. I hope I’ll be able to do much bigger things for this city… We are holding a programme for rehabilitation of occupants of defence land very soon. [As] the chairperson of Maharashtra Animal Welfare Board, [I have to say] we are the only State that has an SPCA in every district.”
Opposition rating:
Congress leader Priya Dutt did not respond, and AAP’s Firoze Palkhiwala did not wish to comment. SP’s Farhan Azmi, who came fourth in the race, said, “I would give her a zero rating … She is not approachable … Utilising funds is not a big deal but the toilets she has constructed are not usable … Look at the illegal construction in her constituency, the state of education, healthcare.
Civil society view:
Civic activist Anandini Thakoor said, “She is a dynamic MP and doing well for her first term… My only grouse is we wanted the compound wall at Bandstand to be extended up to Khar Danda… Ms. Mahajan promised [to] do that but it still hasn’t happened.” Shyama Kulkarni, an activist from Bandra, said, “Ms. Mahajan is not accessible to people.”
Member of Parliament: Gajanan Kirtikar
Mumbai: After facing various hurdles in last six years, finally the bridge connecting between Jogeshwari West and Goregaon East thrown open to commuters on Saturday. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Cm Devendra Fadanavis along with Uddhav Thackarey, Subhash Desai, Sunil Prabhu, Gajanan Kirtikar, and others are seen at the inaugural ceremony of the bridge. Photo: Vijay Bate
Constituency: Mumbai North West
Political party: Shiv Sena
Votes won in 2014: 4,64,820
Winning margin: 1,83,028
Second rank candidate/ party: Gurudas Kamat/ Congress
Utilisation of MPLAD funds: All ₹25 crore allocated have been spent. Around 50.62% of the funds were spent on infrastructure works such as roads and drains. As much as 44.44% was spent on on health facilities, while 3.7% of the expenditure was on sports and 1.23% on education.
Attendance: 79%
Questions asked in Parliament: 1,013
Parliamentary Committees worked on: Standing Committees on Public Accounts and Railways
Private Members’ Bills introduced: 8
Self-assessment:
“We managed to successfully construct the Ram Mandir station. We have ensured [there is] no sludge in Versova creek, which was the cause of several accidents. The ₹80 crore project required sanctions from the Centre and State and was achieved through constant efforts.”
Future plans, if re-elected:
“We will focus on completing [under-construction works], such as the sixth railway line between Borivali and Bandra, the sludge cleaning work for Versova creek. The other key focus would be slum rehabilitation. I will also focus on slum clusters on land owned by Central agencies such as Defence, Railways and aviation.”
Opposition rating:
Congress leader Gurudas Kamat passed away last year. The NCP’s Nawab Malik said, “Kirtikar’s constituency has several infrastructure projects that were cleared by the previous State government. But instead of implementing them he continued to blame the Opposition. His constituency has serious environmental issues, most notably the destruction of Aarey Colony.”
Civil society view:
Godfrey Pimenta of the Watchdog Foundation said, “There are multiple Metro lines and road projects simultaneously being executed in our constituency. As an MP, he should have raised [ the issue of their] impact on the environment, especially the damage to Aarey Colony. The next MP should bear this in mind.”
Member of Parliament: Kirit Somaiya
B.Line:Kirit Somaiya,BJP ,MP at Parliament House in New Delhi, In New Delhi on 30.11.16 Kamal Narang
Constituency: Mumbai North East
Political party: BJP
Votes won in 2014: 5,25,285
Winning margin: 3,17,122
Second rank candidate/ party: Sanjay Dina Patil / NCP
Utilisation of MPLAD funds: All ₹25 crore used — 54.55% spent on infrastructure and allied works such as construction of bus shed, cultural hall, libraries. About 36.36% spent on health, 6.06% on education and 3.03% on sports, including construction of gymnasium and similar structures.
Attendance: 97%
Questions asked in Parliament: 474
Parliamentary Committees they worked on: Committees on Labour, Finance and Public Accounts
Private Members’ Bills introduced: 2
Self-assessment:
“My work resulted in increasing the height of 425 railway platforms, construction of road overbridge at Vikroli, Vidyavihar, Nahur; 46 escalators on railway stations; more than 1,000 medical camps; and provision of hearing aids to over 10,000 senior citizens.”
Future plans, if re-elected:
“I will continue my ongoing work.”
Opposition rating:
The NCP’s Sanjay Dina Patil refused to comment. Party spokesperson Nawab Malik said, “Kirit came into limelight by claiming to fight against corruption. After being in government what has he achieved? … all the projects he is claiming to have brought to his constituency were planned by the previous government. He spoke about bettering railway infrastructure when in Opposition. What did he do?”
Civil society view:
Nilesh Patil, an activist with Hamara Shahar Abhiyan, said, “[Somaiya] focuses on areas with commercial activity, rather than bastis and slums … His focus was on Railways [when in] Opposition. But installing benches at railway stations isn’t an MP’s work. The money should have been [used for] medical facilities in slums and bastis.”
Member of Parliament: Rahul Shewale
BL 28-12-2015 MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA: (FOR FILE) Member of Parliament, Rahul Shewale . Pic by SHASHI ASHIWAL
Constituency: Mumbai South Central
Political party: Shiv Sena
Votes won in 2014: 3,81,008
Winning margin: 1,38,180
Second rank candidate/ party: Eknath Gaikwad/ Congress
Utilisation of MPLAD funds: ₹20.53 crore of the ₹28.62 crore (including interest) spent. About 68.60% spent on footpaths, drainage system etc., 23.97% on health and sanitation; 4.96% on education, which includes works such as construction of balwadi, and 2.48% on sports and gym construction.
Attendance: 94%
Questions asked in Parliament: 844
Parliamentary Committees they worked on: Committee on Urban Development
Private Members’ Bills introduced: 8
Self-assessment:
“My constant follow-up on Dharavi redevelopment pushed the project forward decisively, in-principle approval was given to the redevelopment of Dadar railway station, and beautification of Worli to Mahim Chowpatty, Metro and Monorail works gained speed in my constituency.”
Future plans, if re-elected:
“I want to set up a scheme called Any Time Help through which all government schemes can reach beneficiaries. I am working on combating traffic jams and pollution.I have built 100 toilets, which I plan to take to 500. I am also planning to start waterway from Trombay to Gateway of India.”
Opposition rating:
Congress leader Eknath Gaikwad said, “He could not enlarge his vision as an MP. He could not get out of his previous role as the [BMC] standing committee chairman. And he failed even in that role … The Lok Sabha election is fought on national issues, but being from Shiv Sena, he does not have national vision. Looking at his party’s recent U-turn, he has politically failed his voters too.”
Civil society view:
ALM activist Rajkumar Sharma said, “[Shewale] has taken keen interest in solving problems of gaothans & koliwadas. He is easily approachable. Two issues … he should have stopped are allowing Smriti Van next to Cheeta Camp from being used for Metro work and for a prison … and the Metro line along V.N.Purav Marg.”
(Compiled by Alok Deshpande, Sharad Vyas, Tanvi Deshpande and Ajeet Mahale)
