2 weeks Ago
Nashik: In 2011, Dhule was incorporated into the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), bringing hope of industrial development over around 6,000 hectares of land near the city, alongside logistical and textile hubs. However, almost 14 years down the line, many voters here seem to feel shortchanged, repeatedly manifesting this discontent in political tumult. Some residents feel that back-to-back legislators of the Dhule City assembly constituency from different parties have failed to bring development to this segment of North Maharashtra.
Ineffective leadership and lack of vision by political outfits for the city and district have been cited as reasons behind the failure to capitalise on the passage of crucial national highways through the city — both the Mumbai-Agra and Surat-Kolkata corridors. Further, Dhule possess sufficient water resources to sustain agriculture and prospective industries, but the seat remains neglected despite tall promises made in elections over the years, residents told TOI. Today, on the cusp of another assembly poll, BJP, Shiv Sena (UBT) and AIMIM are battling it out to garner a win, but the entry of candidate Irshad Jahagirdar through the Samajwadi Party (SP) has intensified the tussle.
In the 2019 assembly election, when archrivals Anil Gote (then in Loksangram Party) and Rajwardhan Kadambande (independent) were pitted against each other, AIMIM candidate Shah Faruk Anwar prevailed and secured the seat. But some voters said despite entrusting the mandate to Anwar, he has not made much of an impact. Resident Kesav Ojha alleged, "It was just fortune that favoured him last time.
The incumbent failed to alter much, other than some areas dominated by a minority population. In fact, in the past five years, nothing transformed here for the better other than Centre-sponsored works." Dhule city comprises a minority population of approximately 30%.
Similarly, residents pointed out that despite having served as an MLA twice, in 2009 and 2014, Gote likewise failed to leave a mark. Rajesh Pawar, a medical shopowner in Dhule, told TOI, "Citizens here have experimented with various options in the hope of a competent performance by elected representatives for development. However, this has merely added to the mess.
" Currently, under the promise of ‘development', many roads in the city lie excavated, said residents. They added that their requirements of motorable roads, preventing daily traffic snarls and convenient standard of living are not being addressed. Dhule's potential as a hub for cotton processing industries is also unexplored, they claimed.
BJP's nominee Anup Agrawal maintained that the constituency missed a golden opportunity for development over a decade. "The BJP-led govt at the Centre and state could have transformed the city. They ensured development of highways passing through here and even rail connectivity.
My development plan involves bringing in industries and developing an MIDC for Dhule," he stated. But former MLA Gote — now the Sena (UBT) nominee — who stood third in the 2019 election, disagreed, "Credit of initiating a clean-up along Panzara river and laying drinking water supply pipelines goes to me. I also got other developmental works executed.
" Meanwhile, sitting MLA Anwar said his rivals are targeting a representative from the minority community as they have no other standpoint. "I represent a deprived class of people. What was the harm if I carried out infra development in areas where minorities reside in the last half decade? They deserve it because no one paid attention to them all these years," he said.
SP's Jahagirdar, who was earlier with NCP, refuted, "My opponents are playing the religious card, but I seek development for the people and hence, believe they will vote for me." He added that his focus is on special efforts to convert the govt medical college into a super-specialty facility. "Roads, water, gutters and electricity are responsibilities of govt, not a part of ‘development'.
The latter means better health facilities that people will get nearer to their homes, so there should be one super-specialty hospital in Dhule. Besides, I also want to bring in employment for people, so that they remain focused on development," said Jahagirdar. At present, Dhule city lacks advanced healthcare facilities, for which many residents are forced to travel to Nashik or Mumbai.
Citizens have for long been pushing for this situation to improve..
