Funds,security top on Rawale’s poll agenda

Rawale is confident that with four MLAs and 19 corporators of the Shiv Sena and the BJP in Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency,he will win.

It has been a longstanding grouse that Mumbai does not get funds proportionate to its contribution to taxes. “Considering the taxes Mumbai contributes to the centre’s funds,the city should get much more. We have been seeking Rs 25,000 crore so that issues such as rehabilitation,roads,power,and development can be covered. I’m sure if our government is formed,I will be able to get those funds for Mumbai,” said Rawale.

Security will play an important part of his campaign,he said. “The government is not serious about security,” alleged Rawale.

“The attack has made us realise that police are not adequately trained. We need speedboats,assault rifles and containment vehicles.” Inflation and rising prices are other issues Rawale is planning to pick up during his campaign. Rawale also said that he would continue to fight for relaxation of the CRZ rules so that parts of Marathi-dominated Girgaum can be redeveloped easily.

Rawale,who was a trade union leader and a student wing worker of the Shiv Sena,shot to prominence when he defeated popular trade union leader Datta Samant in 1991 Lok Sabha elections.

Though he has been accused of having an association with gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli,Rawale has been getting the constant support of Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray and senior leader Manohar Joshi.

He also sees himself as being different from Sena MPs who have have been criticized for not putting forth the demands for Mumbai strongly in Parliament. Rawale says that he has raised the issues of police modernization and security in Parliament.