Veteran Shiv Sena leader and sitting MP Gajanan Kirtikar downplays Congress party's decision to nominate Sanjay Nirupam in north west Mumbai. He bets on party's alliance with the BJP and organised cadre for his re-election. In an interview, Kirtikar explains his poll strategy

Shiv Sena was quite vocal against the BJP and the government on several issues. Now, you are in an alliance. How will you ensure transfer of votes?

The Shiv Sena has been successful in conveying to the BJP the critical issues which would have been roadblocks in the smooth running of alliance.

Three such issues pertaining to public at large were the Nanar refinery project at Ratnagiri , property tax waiver for an area up to 500 sq ft housing in Mumbai, and farm loan waiver. They have now been resolved with appropriate and immediate action. Further, Shiv Sena and BJP have struck seat sharing pact. Both the parties are on the same page on key issues of Hindutva and national security. They are being flagged off in the poll campaign. I am quite confident that voters will support the saffron alliance in a big way as Shiv Sena and BJP have amply made it clear that there won't be any compromise on these issues. Transfer of votes is not an issue at all. I must say here that leaders and workers from both the parties are working hard for my re-election.

There will be a fight between you and Sanjay Nirupam. How do you plan to reach out to Hindi-speaking voters and minorities?

During the tenure of 20 years as legislator in north west Mumbai constituency and five years as an MP, I have made no distinction on the basis of caste, language, and religion. I have worked for the resolution of issues of the non-Marathi speaking population with equal zeal . I have, in my team, scores of Hindi-speaking voters who are actively contributing towards my work. Thus, I don't actually need to lure them as my work for Hindi-speaking people has already done the needful to keep them on my side.

People from the Muslim community have been with me for the last thirty years. They have not only supported me, but have been on my side during ups and downs . The cemetery for the Muslims and my efforts in getting quota for the Haj committee have been lauded by them.

Nirupam will make all efforts to cash in on his support in north west with a sizeable presence of north Indians and non-Marathi speaking people. How will you counter it?

My work speaks for itself. Shiv Sena has promptly retaliated such campaigns. I strongly feel voters won't be carried away by such gimmicks. His efforts to cash in on north Indian voters won't work as it will be countered by Shiv Sena's organised cadres and party's well-articulated poll preparations as compared to that of Congress.

What are your achievements and what will be your prospects?

During my tenure, one of the priorities I worked on was youth development through sports and employment generation. A large number of youth were benefitted from the preparatory classes for various competitive exams through which they have later, secured competent jobs. I have promoted the sport of kabaddi, indigenous to the Indian soil, and have been complimented as the chief patron of the WBPF — an international championship cup. I also worked on the upgradation of Railways in Andheri and Jogeshwari and the implementation of sixth track from Bandra to Dahisar, harbor line extension between Andheri to Goregaon. Andheri & Goregaon stations have been included under Model Railway Stations Scheme launched by the Railways Ministry. I have spent about Rs 46 crore on the constituency during his tenure, which includes Rs 25 crore under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLAD) funds and Rs 4 crore that was unspent by the previous MP.

Will party's silence on metro car shed in Aarey Colony hit your poll prospects?

Environment conservation and resolution of traffic congestion are quite crucial. A way out has been proposed to resolve the environment concerns by replanting trees on large scale by MMRDA. Similarly, the development of Metro rail corridors are expected to solve Mumbai's traffic problems. Against this backdrop, the development of Metro car shed in Aarey Colony is important. I don't expect it will harm my poll prospects.