Is BJP banking on shanties for votes?

Mumbai: Rehabilitating all slum dwellers, including illegal ones, who have been living in city slums up to since January 1, 2011, under the Prime Minister Housing Scheme will be the political agenda of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to gain popularity among the vote banks of Shiv Sena, Congress and other parties, said sources.

If the bill amending the Slum Rehabilitation Authority Act gets passed in the winter session of the state legislature, then the ‘outsiders’ living in the illegal hutments in the city will officially become ‘Mumbaikars’, affecting Shiv Sena’s ‘Marathi Manoos’ policy, said sources from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

After trying to entice farmers with the loan waiver scheme and other incentive benefits, the chief minister is all set to start taking steps to increase the BJP’s base in urban areas.

The slum dwellers are known for being the vote banks of Congress, Shiv Sena, Samajwadi Party, MIM and other parties, and the BJP doesn’t have much hold there. Hence, while preparing for the 2019 elections, Mr Fadnavis is concentrating on the slum dwellers as a vote bank.

Those who are living in the state for more than 15 years can get a domicile certificate. However, now even the illegal dwellers can get homes and become a party of the city, legally, said party sources.

If the government brings about the housing policy for all, around 52-55 lakh slum dwellers will benefit from it. The Fadnavis government has also declared various redevelopment schemes for the residents of BDD chawls and dilapidated buildings.

The decision is bound to help the BJP, sources added. Mumbai BJP President Ashish Shelar has welcomed CM Fadnavis’ decisions.