When lawyer and rights activist Shakil Ahmed filed his nomination for Assembly polls from Sion-Koliwada, he said he hoped to bring about “simple and practical changes for a better living”. The new constituency—formed after delimitation—is also where Ahmed, born to a domestic help, saw his home being burnt down in the 92-93 riots, finished his law graduation and initiated the Parivartan Shikshan Sanstha — a non-profit institute that provides education to slum children and fights cases for the victims of Ramabhai Nagar case or Hari Masjid firing.

Among those who turned up to act as guarantors here were representatives of NGOs and those whose causes Ahmed had supported over the past two decades. And it was only an hour before he filed the nomination that Ahmed managed to collect the nomination fee — Rs 5,000 — from friends.