In Dhobi Ghat, sitting MLA relies on Bhojpuri star to woo migrants

“I will only vote for Bhau because he does what he says,’’ said Daata Shanker Yadav, a resident of Sai Baba Nagar.

An hour late, Sachin Ahir and Ravi Kishan arrived to the beats of dhols. As they walked to the first house, a Gujarati family greeting them had no idea who Kishan was. “Pata nahi kaun hain. Kisi ne bola star hain. Hum toh Sachin Ahir ko jante hain (We don’t know who he is. Someone said he is a star. We only know Sachin Ahir),’’ said Sushila Karat outside Laxmi Pooja Apartments on Arthur Jail Road.

Making their way to the stage on an open vehicle, which was stopped repeatedly by large crowds, they arrived to Bhojpuri songs being played in the background. Once on stage, Ahir delivered his speech in Hindi. “Other people didn’t even come here. They don’t understand your problems. In these fifteen years, we have tried to improve infrastructure in the area and to unite people of all religions. All kinds of people live in Mumbai and we celebrate all festivals here in Dhobi Ghat. Fifteen years ago, people didn’t want to enter this area even if you paid them, we have changed this.’’

Dhobi Ghat at Mahalakshmi, known as the world’s largest open-air laundry, is a major tourist attraction in the city. Around 10,000 washermen wash lakhs of clothes here every day. Each of them has a washing stone.

Talking about the 900 flats which had been handed under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme in the area, Ahir said that another 2,200 flats would be handed over in the next four months.

ruhi.bhasin@expressindia.com