2019 Lok Sabha elections: Mumbai candidate Sanjay Nirupam gets Marathi actors to woo voters

Actors Resham Tipnis, Swapnali Patil, Pushkar Jog and Sai Lokur were seen seeking votes for Nirupam in Bimbhisar Nagar at Goregaon.

In order to woo Marathi voters in his constituency, Sanjay Nirupam, who is the Congress’s candidate for Mumbai North West constituency, has roped in a couple of Marathi actors for his campaign. On Friday, Nirupam carried out a roadshow along with the actors in Goregaon and Jogeshwari.

Actors Resham Tipnis, Swapnali Patil, Pushkar Jog and Sai Lokur were seen seeking votes for Nirupam in Bimbhisar Nagar at Goregaon. Nirupam is pitted against Shiv Sena sitting MP Gajanan Kirtikar.

The route of the roadshow covered areas where Sena is known to have a stronghold. A Congress functionary, on the condition of anonymity, said, “The roadshow started from Bhimbisar Nagar to Tripathi Nagar in Jogeshwari East. We had strategically chosen this route as a major part of this area is dominated by Marathis and we wanted to reach out to them. Sena has had a stronghold in this area for several years.”

According to demographic estimates with political parties, of the 2.77 lakh voters in this constituency, 1.35 lakh are Marathis. Nirupam said, “I have been getting an overwhelming response from everywhere. I had challenged Mr Kirtikar for an open debate, which he blatantly refused. He should now be answerable to the reply I have given him.”

In his recent letter to Kirtikar, the Congress candidate had alleged that nearly ₹37 lakh spent by the former to repair toilets and place benches near railway station had serious irregularities. Nirupam has also threatened to file an FIR in this matter.

In his reply, Kirtikar said, “Funds used under the MP Local Area Development scheme are scrutinised and the work is audited. These are rubbish allegations made by him to gain publicity.”