The recent setback for Congress in the Haryana Assembly elections on October 8 has sparked introspection among its allies, with some party leaders questioning the party's overconfidence ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra elections. This political fallout is being felt in Dharavi, where tensions are rising over allegations of nepotism and high-handedness involving the sitting Member of Parliament, Varsha Gaikwad.
Political sources indicate that Varsha Gaikwad is advocating for her sister, Jyoti Gaikwad, to receive a Congress ticket to contest in the Dharavi constituency. This has raised eyebrows, particularly as Jyoti has reverted to her maiden name, ostensibly to leverage the Gaikwad family legacy in the electoral race. Additionally, Varsha is reportedly positioning her brother to run for the Sion Koliwada seat.
In a recent video, Aam Aadmi Party’s Mumbai leader Advocate Sandeep Katke launched a fierce critique of the Gaikwad family, who have a long-standing political history in Dharavi, with Varsha's father, Eknath Gaikwad, representing the area since 1985 until his death from COVID-19 in 2021. Katke accused the family of neglecting the needs of the community, stating, "The family that ruled Dharavi for the last 40 years has done nothing for Dharavi. How many schools did these people build? What did they do to create facilities for women? How many playgrounds have been built for kids?"
He further claimed that the Gaikwads only fostered a network of loyalists, asserting, “There is no leadership in Dharavi. They (Varsha) spent Rs 3 crore on banners during Ganpati and now in Navratri again, crores of rupees were spent on banners. Where did this money come from? Whose money is this?”
Katke continued to criticize the Gaikwad family's absence in local issues, particularly regarding the fight against illegal redevelopment in Dharavi. "Has this special family and this special party ever come on the road to right this so-called redevelopment? I pray that the people of Dharavi see sense and reject this family," he declared. As the political landscape shifts, Congress must navigate these criticisms and the implications of its performance in Haryana to maintain its foothold in Maharashtra.