4 citizen candidates complain of threats

Four of the 51 candidates fielded by the citizens’ forum, Mumbai 227, have alleged that they were threatened before they filed their nomination papers and are being hindered from holding election campaigns.

Four of the 51 candidates fielded by the citizens’ forum, Mumbai 227, have alleged that they were threatened before they filed their nomination papers and are being hindered from holding election campaigns.

HT Image

“I had posted two banners with prior permission from the civic body. But within a day, one of the banners was torn down and the other was tampered with,” said Naveen Surve, who is contesting from ward number 164, Sion.

Another candidate, Prashant Tripathi, said he received a threat via text message on his mobile phone the day he bought his nomination form.

“I was threatened and asked to step back from filing my nomination,” said Tripathi.

Both Surve and Tripathi have filed complaints with the police.

Two other citizen candidates, Benaifer Daruwala from ward number 71 in Andheri and Ujwala Lalge from ward number 17 in Charkop, have claimed that some political parties approached them and tried to “convince” them to relinquish their candidacy.