BJP MLA Kalidas Kolambkar confident of victory in ninth poll; ‘doesn’t believe in Batenge toh Katenge’ – Times of India

MUMBAI: Kalidas Kolambkarthe BJP MLA of the Wadala constituency in Mumbai, has expressed confidence in winning the ninth consecutive term in the Maharashtra Assembly Electionshighlighting his record of public service and his commitment to non-divisive politics. The senior politician, who worked with Shiv Sena (undivided) and Congress before joining the BJP in 2019, said he never believed in the ‘Batenge to Katenge’ politics. He emphasized that Muslim voters in this constituency will stand behind him.
Kolambkar claimed that he would enter the Guinness Book of World Records if he won nine elections on the trot.
He is pitted against Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate and ex-Mayor of Mumbai Shraddha Jadhav from Wadala constituency (earlier Naigaon), considered the largest by area in the island city of Mumbai.
The constituency is characterized by slums in the east and skyscrapers in the west. It houses vegetable, flower and fabric markets in Dadar and Parel, as well as fabric production units in Wadala.
Wadala constituency is dominated by Marathi voters and also includes groups of Muslim, Parasi and Dalit population.
“I am running for the ninth term in the parliamentary elections and I am sure that I will win thanks to the work I have done for people in my political career. After my victory, I will end up in the Guinness Book,” said the 71 year-old Kolambkar in an exclusive interview to PTI. , three days before Maharashtra goes to the polls.
Kolambkar, who started his political career with the undivided Shiv Sena, has not lost an election since 1990.
He became MLA for the first time on the Shiv Sena ticket from the erstwhile Naigaon constituency, which was renamed Wadala after delimitation in 2009.
“I’ve been working on the basics. I know the voters and they know my work over the past 40-45 years. I have no tension about winning the ninth term,” he added.
Kolambkar claimed that he would join the league of top legislators in Maharashtra who have won multiple terms.
Election data shows that Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat has remained undefeated in the last four decades. He had won his first assembly election as an independent candidate from Sangamner constituency in Ahmednagar district.
Late Ganapatrao Deshmukh had won the highest eleven terms from Sangola constituency in Solapur district of Maharashtra.
Kolambkar, however, claimed that he has fought and won continuously since the 1990s, unlike Deshmukh.
“Ganapatrao Deshmukh was elected for 10 terms, including a break in his fifth term. I am winning all the time,” he said.
Kolambkar, a Bal Thackeray loyalist, left Shiv Sena with Narayan Rane in 2005 and subsequently joined the Congress.
Kolambkar said Bal Thackeray was his political mentor.
The MLA alleged that he quit the Congress in 2019 as the party ignored the development of Wadala constituency and failed to implement ongoing works on police housing, redevelopment of BDD chawls and additional FSI for houses of factory workers.
He joined the BJP after Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis assured him to carry out the ongoing work.
Kolambkar won the BJP ticket on his home turf in the 2019 Assembly elections by defeating his nearest rival in Congress by over 31,000 votes.
Kolambkar claimed that he had collected more votes from new areas added to the Wadala constituency after delimitation.
“It makes no difference who is in power. My constituency was demarcated several times but I stuck to my stand,” he added.
When asked whether Muslim voters will support him in light of the ‘Batenge toh Katenge’ slogans raised by some BJP leaders, apparently aimed at communal polarisation.
“I have never used this (Batenge toh Katenge) principle in the last 40-45 years. Muslim voters in my constituency may not vote for the BJP, but they will definitely vote for KK (Kalidas Kolambkar). I won several times like I never did. played caste and communal politics,” he added.
Kolambkar said his opponent Shraddha Jadhav did not pose a challenge to him as he had competed against her in the past.
“The whole of Mumbai was called upon to defeat me in the bypoll but I won by 37,000 votes,” he added.