Mumbai: BJP Mumbai North-East Lok Sabha candidate Mihir Kotecha has declared that he would change the name of Mankhurd to Shivaji Nagar once he gets elected and will stop all the alleged illegal businesses of “gutkha and matka” Islamic tele-evangelist Zakir Naik’s distant family members in the area. Mankhurd has a large slum belt housing migrants and the working class of the city.
Mocking Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Sanjay Dina Patil, Kotecha said he was absent from a recent debate organised by the Free Press Journal for Lok Sabha candidates to present their ideas of development of Mumbai. “The Mumbai Debate 2024 was organised to present our ideas about the city. As far as I know, the organisers made 15 phone calls but Patil did not answer a single one,” he said.
Promising “true governance” in the area, Kotecha challenged Patil to one-on-one discussion and said he himself is ready to “come to any place and discuss his ideas regarding Mumbai’s development”. “I am sure you will accept my challenge and clear the charge of evasion against you,” Kotecha said.
Kotecha also objected to Patil disrespecting the Prime Minister and said he is blabbering as he is foreseeing his defeat in the election. Last month, Kotecha’s campaign vehicle was vandalised by some unknown persons. An MLA from the Mulund constituency, he is now contesting the election from Mumbai North-East, which has been a BJP bastion since 2004.
