Ahir campaigns in Dagdi Chawl, but gets no blessings from Gawli

By Naresh Kamath

MUMBAI:

IT was a show of strength like no other. Nationalist Congress Candidate
and nephew of former Don Arun Gawli chose to swamp the latter’s infamous den Dagdi Chawl with his supporters and sought votes. However, the campaigning was only symbolic, since there was no hint of support for Ahir.
Besides, it was made with a huge entourage of NCP workers, and amidst a tight police cordon of 50 policemen.
Sachin Ahir, South Central Mumbai candidate for the 14th Lok Sabha,
along with hundreds of party workers made a grand entry to Dagdi Chawl at Byculla, the den of dreaded don Arun Gawli on Sunday.
In one of the most publicised event, the NCP cadres from places like Malad and Chembur began pouring into the narrow lane that is Dagdi chawl from 8:30 am onwards.
The entourage liberally distributed T-shirts and caps. Songs were being played urging voters to vote for Ahir.
Meanwhile in a rare event, Dagdi Chawl’s main gate remained open as media and workers of Gawli’s outfit Akhil Bhartiya Sena (ABS) were seen inside the compound with some television channels even showing the event live.
Activists of ABS said that they were instructed not to disturb the campaign of Ahir and hence were restrained. Some said it hardly made any difference while the several young ABS members said they were angry with Ahir for betraying Daddy, as Gawli is called in these parts.
At 10:30 Ahir along with wife Sangeeta, MLA Madhu Chawan and hundreds of activists made a dramatic entry to the Chawl. While the women folk made a beeline to the ’Geetai’ building where Gawli resides and started shouting slogans praising Ahir, Ahir paid obesience
at the Shiv temple.
Ahir travelled around the compound he only visited the building E, from the second floor he started waving out to his supporters.
Talking to the media, Ahir said "I may have not be born here but my childhood is full of memories of this chawl. Memories of playing volleyball, and of course the shootouts are still fresh. It is my duty to visit residents
as they are my voters and even though they may not publicly support me, they still love me."
Asked if he met his estranged uncle Arun Gawli, who is his rival candidate, Ahir said "I went for his blessings but was told that he was not available. It is just an ideological fight and I am sure that I will at least get one vote from here."
After his departure Gawli addressed the media and came down heavily on Ahir, the politicians and police. When asked about Ahir coming to take his blessings Gawli said "Only God has power to bless and in Mahabharata despite Gandhari’s blessing her son Duryodhan was defeated. The mill workers have lost their jobs and here we see politicians interested only in dividing people in name of religion, castes and language. They have become kings and I have stood in elections to represent common people. Ahir lives in Santacruz and it was me who groomed him and made him a leader, but see his deeds today."
When asked about Ahir’s campiagn in his own den the dagdi Chawl,
"Anyone can campaign here as this is democracy. I also pay tax and it makes no difference whether Ahir or any national leader contests from here. Right from the inception of ABS, I am in social work and it is time
for all to emulate this. The police are also creating hurdles in my campaign."
More than 50 police personnel stood guard both inside and out of the chawl and after Ahir’s departure a constable said "There was tension as anything could have sparked off a scuffle and
trouble would be instant. At least now we are relieved."