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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Congress’ solo path for ‘ideological survival’

Mumbai: The Congress party’s decision to contest the forthcoming BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections independently is being viewed as an attempt to reclaim its ideological space among the public and restore credibility within its cadre, senior leaders indicated. The announcement - made by AICC General Secretary Ramesh Chennithala alongside state president Harshwardhan Sapkal and Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad - did not trigger a backlash from the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi...

Congress’ solo path for ‘ideological survival’

Mumbai: The Congress party’s decision to contest the forthcoming BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections independently is being viewed as an attempt to reclaim its ideological space among the public and restore credibility within its cadre, senior leaders indicated. The announcement - made by AICC General Secretary Ramesh Chennithala alongside state president Harshwardhan Sapkal and Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad - did not trigger a backlash from the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners, the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT). According to Congress insiders, the move is the outcome of more than a year of intense internal consultations following the party’ dismal performance in the 2024 Assembly elections, belying huge expectations. A broad consensus reportedly emerged that the party should chart a “lone-wolf” course to safeguard the core ideals of Congress, turning140-years-old, next month. State and Mumbai-level Congress leaders, speaking off the record, said that although the party gained momentum in the 2019 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha elections, it was frequently constrained by alliance compulsions. Several MVA partners, they claimed, remained unyielding on larger ideological and political issues. “The Congress had to compromise repeatedly and soften its position, but endured it as part of ‘alliance dharma’. Others did not reciprocate in the same spirit. They made unilateral announcements and declared candidates or policies without consensus,” a senior state leader remarked. Avoid liabilities He added that some alliance-backed candidates later proved to be liabilities. Many either lost narrowly or, even after winning with the support of Congress workers, defected to Mahayuti constituents - the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena, or the Nationalist Congress Party. “More than five dozen such desertions have taken place so far, which is unethical, backstabbing the voters and a waste of all our efforts,” he rued. A Mumbai office-bearer elaborated that in certain constituencies, Congress workers effectively propelled weak allied candidates through the campaign. “Our assessment is that post-split, some partners have alienated their grassroots base, especially in the mofussil regions. They increasingly rely on Congress workers. This is causing disillusionment among our cadre, who see deserving leaders being sidelined and organisational growth stagnating,” he said. Chennithala’s declaration on Saturday was unambiguous: “We will contest all 227 seats independently in the BMC polls. This is the demand of our leaders and workers - to go alone in the civic elections.” Gaikwad added that the Congress is a “cultured and respectable party” that cannot ally with just anyone—a subtle reference to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which had earlier targeted North Indians and other communities and is now bidding for an electoral arrangement with the SS(UBT). Both state and city leaders reiterated that barring the BMC elections - where the Congress will take the ‘ekla chalo’ route - the MVA alliance remains intact. This is despite the sharp criticism recently levelled at the Congress by senior SS(UBT) leader Ambadas Danve following the Bihar results. “We are confident that secular-minded voters will support the Congress' fight against the BJP-RSS in local body elections. We welcome backing from like-minded parties and hope to finalize understandings with some soon,” a state functionary hinted. Meanwhile, Chennithala’s firm stance has triggered speculation in political circles about whether the Congress’ informal ‘black-sheep' policy vis-a-vis certain parties will extend beyond the BMC polls.

A Living Classroom for Environmental Learning

Once barren and debris-filled, the land was transformed into a thriving theme park for environmental education.

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In my earlier article, I traced how our biomedical waste facility in Thane grew from modest beginnings into a robust service network spanning multiple districts. What started as a daunting challenge—convincing hospitals, acquiring vehicles, and gaining regulatory trust—eventually matured into a recognised and certified operation. Along the way, we expanded our outreach, launched awareness campaigns, and even organised an international conference on biomedical waste management. In doing so, it proved that persistence and partnerships can transform an idea into an institution.


While setting up the biomedical waste treatment facility, we also began transforming the debris-filled land around us into a green space. This area, later known as Ankur Theme Park, became a hands-on learning environment for schoolchildren, college students, and the general public.


As we installed the machines, we decided to green the barren, debris-strewn land given to us.


We cleared the land and began tilling it to make the soil suitable for vegetation. Around the same time, we had already started our biocompost unit, followed by vermicompost units. To condition the soil, we used our own naturally made biocompost.


Gradually, this effort grew into a theme park. We intended to invite school and college students to step outside the classroom and learn directly from nature.


We created demonstration units—a biogas plant, a plant nursery, a butterfly garden, plantations of economically important plants, medicinal plants, flowering and ornamental plants, and more. We also constructed large ponds for aquaculture. Soon, guided tours were being organised not just for students but also for common citizens. Our aim was to develop this space into a true Centre of Excellence for environmental education.


We were privileged to have many eminent individuals visit our centre.


As mentioned in one of my earlier articles, Shri Ram Naik, then Petroleum Minister of the Government of India, inaugurated the facility.


Later, our spirits soared when the late Shri Manohar Parrikar, then Chief Minister of Goa, visited. It was truly a memorable event for us.


Dr Dilip Biswas, Chairman of the Central Pollution Control Board, also came all the way from New Delhi after learning that an environmental NGO had set up a common biomedical waste treatment facility. After his visit, he remarked that this facility was a role model and the first of its kind in India.


We were equally honoured by the visit of Dr Anil Kakodkar, an eminent nuclear scientist and former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India. He, too, was very impressed with the work being done at our facility.


The story is nearing its end. I will share the final chapter in the next article. Until then, wishing you a pleasant weekend!


(The writer is an environmentalist.)

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