Will Bhau Saheb Bhoir's Battle for Change Be Successful?

Pimpri, Oct 3 (PCB) – Bhau Saheb Bhoir is a prominent figure in the political, social, and particularly cultural movements of the city. Known for his outspoken nature, sharp rhetoric, and visionary leadership, he has served five terms as a municipal councilor. However, due to his straightforward and candid demeanor, he has never held the positions of mayor, MLA, or MP. He possesses all the essentials for politics today—power, money, and manpower. His only significant flaw has been his inability to engage in sycophancy or backhanded dealings. Bhoir has been a key player in cultural movements within Pimpri-Chinchwad, becoming closely associated with the late Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, as well as many renowned figures from the Hindi and Marathi film industries. Now, he is entering the electoral fray with a commitment to fight for change.

It is almost certain that he will be the candidate for the Chinchwad assembly constituency. Being a mature thinker, party affiliation or election symbols are secondary issues for him. The real question is how much support he will receive from the public, which will ultimately determine whether he becomes an MLA.

Bhoir has been associated with Congress ideology throughout his life and was genuinely the political heir and protégé of the late Education Minister Prof. Ramkrishna More, who played a crucial role in the city's development. When half of Congress’s cadre defected to Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, Bhoir recognized the changing times and bid farewell to Congress. In 2009, as the most senior candidate, he was nominated by the party from Chinchwad, but due to opposition from Ajit Pawar, he faced rebellion from Laxman Jagtap, leading to his defeat. In 2014, he declined an offer from Shiv Sena to contest from the Maval Lok Sabha constituency, not wanting to betray his progressive ideals. Prior to Jagtap's entry into BJP in 2014, Bhoir was also courted by BJP to join the party, but he refused due to the lack of intellectual discourse there. If he had joined earlier, he might have become an MLA or MP long ago. 

Now, Bhoir has decided to fight his final battle for change and development. On October 2, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti, he declared his resolve at a massive rally in Rahatani, gathering a large crowd of supporters. Whether this momentum will carry through to the elections remains to be seen. Regardless, the issues Bhoir has chosen to focus on in his campaign are significant and eye-opening, prompting this write-up.

He aims to break the cycle of money and power politics, denouncing those who seek to buy votes and conduct politics as a business. Bhoir openly states that he has no ties to any vested interests and indirectly critiques competing candidates. He highlights the plundering that has occurred under the BJP regime, presenting data to alert the public.

Key Campaign Issues – Impactful and Cutting-Edge

Water Supply: Leaders have repeatedly announced 24/7 water supply over the past five to ten years, but residents are still facing intermittent supply. Thousands of housing societies are suffering due to insufficient water, incurring heavy costs for tanker services. Taxpayers are facing a double burden as they pay for water supply while also spending significantly more for water deliveries.

Traffic Congestion: With the city rapidly expanding due to broad road infrastructure, traffic congestion has become a major issue. Around five lakh IT employees commuting daily are frustrated by spending two to four hours stuck in traffic. Many companies in Hinjawadi are considering relocation due to these challenges. Rajiv Bajaj, owner of Bajaj Auto, recently tweeted about taking four hours to cover a distance that usually takes 25 minutes. The monsoon season exacerbated the issue, with roads becoming impassable due to potholes, yet no officials took notice.

Bhoir has highlighted these fundamental problems in his campaign literature, explaining why he seeks a legislative position.

"I Don't Need MLA Position for Corruption" – A Direct Attack

Bhoir targets potential BJP candidate Shankar Jagtap, stating that some candidates desire the MLA position merely for opportunities to engage in corruption, such as TDR and tender scams. He criticizes the current state of the city, which was once clean and beautiful but has now become dilapidated due to such negligence. He calls upon educated and discerning voters to unite for change.

Bhoir's deep concern for the present political landscape is evident. The harsh reality is that votes are being bought and sold for amounts ranging from ₹2,000 to ₹3,000. His track record stands in stark contrast to his opponents, and now the focus shifts to the voters. The ultimate test is whether this battle for change will endure, whether it will hold strong until the end, and whether he will emerge victorious at the ballot box.