MNS-Sena play pothole politics

While Mumbaiites are fuming about the pothole filled and unsafe roads in the city, the ruling party in the civic body, the Shiv Sena, and its rival, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have turned this issue too into an opportunity for one-upmanship.

While Mumbaiites are fuming about the pothole filled and unsafe roads in the city, the ruling party in the civic body, the Shiv Sena, and its rival, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have turned this issue too into an opportunity for one-upmanship.

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First, the MNS asked the local ward office to fill the potholes opposite the Sena Bhavan, the Shiv Sena headquarters. The move was intended as a taunt to the Bal Thackeray led party.

“It is tragic that they are unable to see the huge potholes outside their own headquarters,” said Sandeep Deshpande, MNS leader. “These potholes are causing lot of problems to the vehicles on this busy junction and hence we intervened,” he sought to justify the agitation.

On learning of this, Sena workers rushed to the spot along with the party flags and started ‘supervising the pothole-filling work, while MNS workers stood aside. A truck, which was carrying materials to repair a road at Deonar, was stopped by the Sena workers and forced to empty the material at Dadar itself.

Moreover, the Sena dismissed the MNS’ attempt to fill potholes as a stunt. “This is probably the first time that potholes appeared outside our headquarters and that too due to heavy rains,” said Sena leader Arvind Bhosle.

He said the roads are in bad shape as both the local legislator and corporator who belong to the MNS have neglected them.