Member of Parliament: Shrikant Shinde
Constituency: Kalyan
Political party: Shiv Sena
Mumbai: March 09, 2019 : Shrikant Eknath Shinde, MP from Kalyan, Mumbai, Shivsena. Photo: Special Arrangement.
Votes won in 2014: 4,40,892
Winning margin: 2,50,749
Second rank candidate/ party: Anand Paranjape / NCP
Utilisation of MPLAD funds: Spent all of the ₹25 crore. Mr. Shinde said he avoided spending on road works or footpaths as MPLAD funds are not meant for this. A shooting range in Ambernath, gardens, open gyms, a cricket pitch at Dombivali, a jogging track in Thakurli, are some of the key works done by him.
Attendance: 83%
Questions asked in Parliament: 900
Parliamentary Committees they worked on: Committee on Health and Family Welfare
Private Members’ Bills introduced: 7
Self-assessment:
“I was true to my word on improving railway services. I expedited work on the 5th and 6th line between Thane and Diva; received Central approval for Kalyan-Thane-Mumbai waterway, Thakurli Terminus, and Kalyan Yard remodelling work; and State approval for Dombivali Metro. I initiated work on a multi-specialty hospital in place of ESIC hospital, Ulhasnagar,” Mr. Shinde said.
Future plans, if re-elected:
“I will continue my ongoing work. Work on all the projects that are under way will be over and new developmental projects will be taken up,” said Mr. Shinde.
Opposition rating:
NCP leader Anand Paranjape said, despite enjoying power from municipal corporation to Parliament, no infrastructure project was completed. “Nothing has been done about Kalva-Airoli elevated corridor, Thane-Diva 6th line in MUTP-II, Dombivali to Mankoli creek bridge, 3rd line between Kalyan-Kasara and Kalyan-Karjat, Kalyan rail terminal and setting up a ₹6,500 growth centre in 27 villages of KDMC. Mr. Shinde has failed to make any impact.”
Civil society view:
Pradip Bhanage, an activist from Dombivali and local journalist said, “Mr. Shinde knows his core voters and has kept them happy by focusing his works around them. He is easily accessible to ordinary citizens. Railways is a lifeline to this region. There is no significant improvement in railways infrastructure. Shiv Sena enjoys power from corporation to Parliament, but civic issues in Kalyan are far from being solved.”
Member of Parliament: Rajendra Gavit
(Winner in 2014– Chintaman Vanga / BJP. Rajendra Gavit won Palghar by-election on May 31, 2018)
Constituency: Palghar
Political party: BJP
Mumbai: May 31, 2018. BJP Candidate Rajendra Gavit being congratulated by the party supporters, after his win in Palghar Lok Sabha seat outside the polling counting centre at Palghar town in Maharshtra on Thursday. The by-election in Palghar Lok Sabha constituency held on May 28 along with two other seat, Bhandara and Gondia of the state. Photo: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury.
Votes won in 2014: 2,72,782
Winning margin: 29,572
Second rank candidate/ party: Shrinivas Vanga / Shiv Sena
Utilisation of MPLAD funds: Spent ₹5 crore for one year. Mr. Gavit said he spent his all of his funds on repairing a few roads, passenger amenities at stations, a muslim graveyard and a ₹50 lakh fund for child welfare and development in project-affected areas.
Attendance: 68%
Questions asked in Parliament: 8
Parliamentary Committees they worked on: None
Private Members’ Bills introduced: 0
Self-assessment:
“Despite a short tenure, I have managed to get some key projects off the ground — most notably, a ₹360-crore creek bridge which will reduce the distance between Palghar and Virar. We have provided more foot-overbridges and escalators than the previous government. Palghar is also the leading district in Maharashtra in implementation of the Forest Rights Act,” Mr. Gavit said.
Future plans, if re-elected:
“We will continue doing the same work. There are talks that Shiv Sena will get this constituency, but it hasn’t materialised yet,” Mr. Gavit said.
Opposition rating:
President of Bahujan Vikas Aghadi and sitting MLA Hitendra Thakur said, “One needs to only look at the number of tribal children who have died due to malnutrition in an area whose guardian minister is also the State Cabinet minister for Tribal Development.” Mr. Thakur said that the series of large infrastructure projects in the area has been met with stiff opposition and will play a huge role in the upcoming elections.
Civil society view:
Local activist Ramakant Patil said that Mr. Gavit and his predecessor have not made an impact on policy issues. “Administratively they’ve been okay. But issues such as implementation of MNREGA, MUDRA and the Forest Rights Act haven’t been tackled at the Union-level. The major election issue this time will be the Bullet Train and Mumbai-Vadodara Highway projects that will affect farmers, adivasis and fishing communities.
Member of Parliament: Kapil Patil
Constituency: Bhiwandi
Political party: BJP
Votes won in 2014: 4,11,070
Winning margin: 1,09,450
Second rank candidate/ party: Vishwanath Patil/Congress
Utilisation of MPLAD funds: Spent all of the ₹25 crore. Mr. Patil said he utilised 100% fund on concretisation of roads, paver blocks, construction of footpaths, amenity blocks, high mast lights, toilets, a water supply programme, borewells and community halls.
Attendance: 91%
Questions asked in Parliament: 462
Parliamentary Committees they worked on: Standing Committee on Urban Development, Consultative Committee on Railway Ministry
Private Members’ Bills introduced: 0
Self-assessment:
Mr. Patil said, “We have gotten works worth ₹23,000 crore approved for this constituency. The cabinet has cleared railway proposals worth ₹3,000 crore. I have utilized my entire fund as well.”
Future plans, if re-elected:
“I will demand an AIIMS hospital for Thane, as per the Centre’s new policy, so people don’t have to go to Mumbai hospitals. Bhiwandi requires a direct train from Mumbai. Once work on the Virar corridor is done, we will get direct connectivity. We have also demanded a jetty. For the textile industry, I will urge the Centre to come up with conducive policies,” Mr. Patil said.
Opposition rating:
Vishwanath Patil, who contested against Kapil Patil in 2014, said, “The MP has not done anything to support two major protests in the area in the last five years. He has always sided with the elite. During protests against Samruddhi Mahamarg, where was he when the armed forces entered the villages? We formed a committee to save these lands. He does bhoomipujan of projects that never take off. He has no connect with the grassroots.”
Civil society view:
Zahid Mukhtar Shaikh, a social worker and Bhiwandi-resident said, “The MP did nothing on two fronts — after GST was imposed, the powerloom sector suffered heavy losses. We were promised refunds, we file returns regularly but the process is too long. Almost 60% of textile mills have moved out of Bhiwandi due to high electricity bills. The MP did not do anything to seek respite from the energy ministry.”
Member of Parliament: Rajan Vichare
Constituency: Thane
Political party: Shiv Sena
Thane,10/03/2019:MP Of Thane constituency Rajan Vichare
Votes won in 2014: 5,95,364
Winning margin: 2,81,299
Second rank candidate/ party: Sanjiv Naik/ NCP
Utilisation of MPLAD funds: Of the ₹25 crore, 79.31% was spent on infrastructure and allied projects, 9.20% on health, 6.90% on education and 4.6% in the field of sports.
Attendance: 78%
Questions asked in Parliament: 504
Parliamentary Committees they worked on: Industry
Private Members’ Bills introduced: 0
Self-assessment: Mr. Vichare said, “A lot of work has been done for citizens’ convenience. We built the SATIS flyover outside Thane station. Work has begun on the Digha station on the Kalwa–Airoli elevated corridor, so Karjat-Kasara residents won’t have to come to Thane to go to Navi Mumbai soon. A new passport office is being inaugurated in Navi Mumbai. The proposal for a new jetty at Uttan has been passed.”
Future plans, if re-elected: “My priority will be constructing a new railway station — tentatively named New Thane — between Thane and Mulund, for which we are trying to acquire the Thane Municipal Hospital land. It will ease load on Thane station, which witnesses a footfall of eight lakh every day. We will also start water transport from Bhayander to Thane to cut travel time to half-an-hour,” Mr. Vichare said.
Opposition rating:
Mr. Vichare’s predecessor, NCP leader Sanjeev Naik said the projects that Mr. Vichare talked about were proposed during his term, and no new effort has been observed. “We had proposed two stations on the Kalwa–Airoli route: Digha and Khairane-Bonkode. Mr. Vichare ignored Khairane-Bonkode and moved Digha 500 meters closer to Kalwa. They talk about acquiring the Mental Hospital land for the New Thane station, but I fail to see the delay, especially since the guardian minister is also the Health Minister.”
Civil society view:
Thane-based activist Rohit Joshi said, “Going by the promises in his manifesto, Mr. Vichare has failed in resolving local transport and basic infrastructure issues. Work on the Kopri road overbridge and Versova Bridge is going on at a very slow pace, causing heavy traffic jams. The SATIS project has been a disaster and yet, a second bridge had been planned in Thane (east). The New Thane station looks like a distant dream.”
Member of Parliament: Anant Geete
Constituency: Raigad
Political party: Shiv Sena
BENGALURU, KARNATAKA, 12/12/2017: ( from left ) Shobana Kamineni, President, confederation of Indian Industry, Anant Geete, Minister for heavy industries and public enterprises, Government of India and Vipin Sondhi chairman, Excon steering committee 2017 at the inauguration of the EXCON 2017 on Tumkur Road in Bengalore on Tuesday. Photo SOMASHEKAR G R N
Votes won in 2014: 3,96,178
Winning margin: 2,110
Second rank candidate/ party: Sunil Tatkare / NCP
Utilisation of MPLAD funds: Spent ₹18 crore of the ₹22.50 crore received. As per the GoI website, Mr. Geete spent 92.49% on infrastructure and building roads and community centres. Around 5.11% was spent on health infrastructure such as ambulances and 2.40% on education in constructing schools and balwadis.
Attendance: Not applicable*
Questions asked in Parliament: Not applicable*
Parliamentary Committees they worked on: Not applicable*
Private Members’ Bills introduced: Not applicable
Self-assessment: Mr. Geete declined to comment
Future plans, if re-elected: Mr. Geete declined to comment
Opposition rating:
NCP leader Sunil Tatkare said, “Mr. Geete has been a six-time MP and minister for 10 years. What did he do for industries and employment? Did the tourism industry flourish in scenic and coastal Raigad? Honesty, willpower and sensitivity is needed to ensure development. The present MP does not have any of these qualities. As a minister in the State, I ensured funds of crores of rupees was brought in the district. This six-time MP could never do that.”
Civil society view:
Social activist Ulka Mahajan, who has led a number of struggles in the region said she is completely disappointed with Mr. Geete’s performance. “He may be easily accessible to party workers, but not to us. We never found him sensitive to our issues. The constituency has not seen a single developmental project in his tenure, which did not destroy farmers’ livelihood. On social issues too, the MP has been invisible.”
* Mr. Geete served as Union Cabinet Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Sector Enterprises
(Compiled by Alok Deshpande, Ajeet Mahale, Tanvi Deshpande, Gautam Mengle)
