Shiv Sena seeks TV host for outreach

Mumbai: To woo women voters ahead of the Assembly polls, Shiv Sena has roped in popular TV show host and party leader Aadesh Bandekar. The party will launch an interactive programme ‘Mauli Samvad,’ wherein he will interact with women across all strata of the society, including farmers and labourers. Mr Bandekar, with his huge fan base among women, will be able to strike a chord with the female voters across the state, said a party insider. Women constitute nearly half the voter population in the state. The event ‘Mauli Samvad’ will be based on the lines of another interactive event ‘Aaditya Samvad,’ in which Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray interacted with the youths. During the programme, Mr Thackeray answered pre-registered and live questions from youths. In the first leg of ‘Mauli Sanwad’, which begins today, Mr Bandekar will interact with tribal women from Vikramgad in Palghar. On August 3, the programme will be held in Thane district’s Bhiwandi. During the event, the Shiv Sena will also advertise the policies adopted by the government for uplifting women, a party official said. He also added that valuable suggestions will be taken from those who participate in the event.   Mr Bandekar is also a party secretary but is widely known for his popular TV show ‘Home Minister,’ in which he interacts with women and their families. The popularity of the show has helped him become a household name across Maharashtra.