Congress to hold pothole, polkhol morchas in Mumbai

With its eye on civic elections, the city unit of the Congress has decided to “expose” the ruling party in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Shiv Sena, by organising a pothole and polkhol (expose) morcha in the coming days.

Party vice-president Rahul Gandhi is likely to visit Mumbai in September to inspire the cadres. Mr Gandhi is personally monitoring the development of the party in Mumbai, said sources.

According to Mr Gandhi’s instructions, party leaders in the city held two meetings, including one on Tuesday evening. It was an extended meeting in which former party legislators as well as district presidents were also called to plot the strategy of the party ahead of the civic poll.

According to Naseem Khan, the Congress will organise two main protests against the ruling Shiv Sena in the BMC.

The city Congress will organise its pothole morcha on July 17. “Not a single road in the island city is in a good condition. Though the BMC mayor and the Shiv Sena chief have claimed that there are very few potholes and these would be repaired immediately, commuters, vehicle owners and pedestrians know the real situation,” said Mr Khan.

Speaking to this paper at the Vidhan Bhavan, Mr Khan said another protest, namely, polkhol morcha would be held to expose the road and dumping ground scams and the involvement of BMC officials in the same. “The polkhol morcha will be organised in all 227 wards of the city,” said Mr Khan, adding the dates would be announced soon.

On September 20, the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi, Congress will organise a human chain.