‘I have come here to bring about a change’: Urmila Matondkar

Urmila Matondkar, the Congress candidate from Mumbai North, spoke with Ankita Bhatkhande about the celebrity factor and her plans for the constituency if she wins.

Urmila Matondkar, the Congress candidate from Mumbai North, spoke with Hindustan Times about the celebrity factor and her plans for the constituency if she wins.

Congress North Mumbai candidate and Bollywood actor Urmila Matondkar waves at party supporters during her election campaign for the Lok Sabha polls, at Kandivali in Mumbai, April 20, 2019. (PTI file photo)

The Mumbai North constituency has always been dominated by BJP. The sitting MP won the last time by over four lakh votes. Do you think the pressure is high, considering this is your first stint?

I am glad that I have got such an important constituency as there are many issues here that are hitting people hard. I will work towards addressing the issues of people and am sure that the party will win.

Celebrity factor worked in the constituency in 2004, when it elected Govinda against BJP leader Ram Naik. But a lot of people complained that Govinda was not accessible later. How will you ensure that this doesn’t happen?

It would be wrong to compare a candidate on the basis of the performance of someone else who was in that place earlier. I have come here to bring about a change and I will try my best to do so. People might think I am a celebrity and I will melt in the sun, but I don’t see that happening.

What are the main issues that you would like to address if you come to power?

The issues of slums and housing are the most prominent ones. Congress has several solutions to the housing problems in the country. Our party president Rahul Gandhi has promised that the party will work towards redevelopment, so most people get homes. Another prominent national issue is unemployment. The recent NSSO data has highlighted the state of unemployment during the current government’s tenure, which needs to be tackled.