Maharashtra civic polls: UBT Sena-MNS rolls out big-ticket promises, sops

MUMBAI: Free power up to 100 units, Rs 1,500 for domestic workers, and free travel for women and students during peak hours - as one of Asia's richest civic corporations heads to the polls, it's raining freebies in Mumbai. In what appears to be a Ladki Bahin-style redux, the opposition is seeking to outdo the ruling alliance, with the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) Sena and its partner, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), announcing a slew of sops if voted to power in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

At a workshop for candidates held in the city, Aaditya Thackeray - son of Uddhav Thackeray - and Amit Thackeray - son of MNS chief Raj Thackeray - unveiled the promises through a presentation.

They said the alliance would build one lakh affordable homes for government employees and mill workers so that Marathi-speaking residents do not have to move to Mumbai's outskirts. The plan also includes free power for BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply Undertaking) residential consumers up to 100 units, and breakfast and lunch at Rs 10 for "hard-working Mumbaikars".


A 'Swabhimaan Nidhi' of Rs 1,500 per month has been promised for women working as domestic helps, along with zero property tax for homes up to 700 sq ft.
"We will deploy special buses during peak hours for women and students in uniform, who will be able to travel free," Aaditya Thackeray said.

The UBT Sena-MNS alliance has also promised international-standard toilets every 2 km, equipped with laundromats, free parking in BMC pay-and-park facilities, and halved BEST fares - fixed at Rs 5 for 5 km, Rs 10 for 10 km, Rs 15 for 15 km, and Rs 20 for 20 km.

The parties have pledged to build five new medical colleges, a cancer hospital, as well as creches for working women. BMC schools would be upgraded to include junior colleges up to Class 12, and mini sports complexes would be constructed in every municipal ward.