Closer to poll goal: Christian front set to field candidates for BMC elections

UCF members held a meeting at a Vile Parle hotel over this weekend to discuss fielding candidates

The United Christian Front (UCF), a Mumbai-based organisation started in January 2021, had one aim: to ensure that the community gets involved in politics. The traditionally politically wary community, which shies away at what they dub as ‘trouble', has been moving steadily to find candidates to join political parties and contest elections, rather than be observers, critics or sit on the sidelines.

The UCF had met in August last year to chart out a roadmap for the high stakes in Mumbai municipal polls to be held shortly. After some teething trouble and Covid-induced bumps, they had a meeting at a Vile Parle hotel over this weekend where there was a solid movement towards fielding candidates.

Advocate Alexander D'Souza, convenor of UCF

Anil Bhosale, national president of Maharashtra Minority Christian Development Council (MMCDC) said, "We saw some youth leaders from different political parties at this meeting, so it was heartening. It is an indicator that this does not remain on paper only and we do see that the community makes that leap of faith in the upcoming municipal polls."

An effort

Janet D'Souza, senior vice-president of Mumbai Congress, said, "We have to ensure that community persons join political parties and this is a massive effort prior to the BMC polls. Currently, as a community, we have no voice in the Assembly or the Parliament."

D'Souza said that the Congress party, "has always encouraged and given tickets to Christians. I think Congress had given seven to eight tickets in the past BMC elections. For the upcoming elections, the UCF has identified at least 18 wards that have a sizable Christian voter base. The focus though is to field candidates, it is not just about voters. It is to get Christians to join secular parties rather than being on the outside."

When told that the BJP may be giving some Christian candidates tickets, too, D'Souza firmly said, "A majority of the community is with the Congress. As for the BJP giving tickets to the community candidates, I do not see this happening. Let us wait and watch."

The specifics

Advocate Alexander D'Souza, convenor, UCF, said, "The deadline for submission of names of candidates should be some time in March. The meeting at Avion Hotel was successful because we saw representation from several political parties like the NCP, Shiv Sena, Congress, BJP, RPI and the Aam Aadmi Party. We will support at least 17 candidates across the main political parties." The convenor added, "We met minister Aslam Shaikh (Congress) and have requested seven tickets for the BMC polls. Ashish Shelar (BJP) has called the UCF for a meeting soon.

We are requesting four seats from the BJP; in Kurla, Vakola, Bandra and Gorai. We are asking for three seats from the Shiv Sena and two from the NCP. We are asking for one seat from the RPI. That makes it 17," he explained. The community said, "This is not hugely ambitious, it is just a beginning. So many of us are into social work but we have to be in the system, to clean up the system and the BMC polls are the ideal springboard to do so."