Sena names flyover after arch rival Mrinal Gore
The late socialist leader managed to earn the respect of Bal Thackeray, who had said that while his ideological fight with Gore would never end, he admired her loyalty to the cause.
The Shiv Sena, which rarely holds back when unleashing its wrath on competitors, has decided to honour an arch rival who had always crossed swords with its party members but ultimately earned their respect.
Four years after her death, the Sena has decided to pay tribute to socialist leader Mrinal Gore, fondly known as ‘Paaniwali Bai’, by naming the city’s second double decker flyover after her. The flyover – which connects Goregaon East and West – will be inaugurated today by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.
The firebrand earned the title of ‘Paaniwali Bai’ (water lady) due to her fight for drinking water supply for Goregaon, where she led many protests along with her contemporaries Ahilya Rangnekar and Pramila Dandavate. She was leader of opposition in the state assembly and was also elected to Lok Sabha in 1977. When she was elected MP in 1977, the election that Indira Gandhi lost, giving rise to the slogan, “Paaniwali bai Dilli mein, Dilliwali bai paani mein” (The water lady (Mrinal) reaches Delhi (Parliament) and the Delhi lady (Indira Gandhi) is in deep water). She declined the position of health minister offered to her by then Prime Minister Morarji Desai. She passed away in 2012. In her last few years, she was suffering from diabetes. Party sources said that Thackeray was disturbed as her medical condition worsened. “To remind the present generation of her achievements, I have prepared a four-page pamphlet describing her work,” said Desai.
Industries minister Subhash Desai of Shiv Sena, who hails from Goregaon, said, “She was from Goregaon but was a leader of the entire state. I always wanted to name one project in Goregaon after her. So when I spoke to our chief Uddhavji, he told me to go ahead. Balasaheb never agreed with her views, but he respected her. Balasaheb had once told me that while his fight with Gore will never end, he was impressed with her style of working and loyalty to the cause. She never compromised with her cause.’’
The flyover project is being executed by the BMC. The Sena has invited Gore’s daughter Anjali Vartak for the inauguration. “They had severe differences despite which the Sena has acknowledged her work. I am grateful to them,” said Vartak.
North West Mumbai MP Gajanan Kirtikar of Shiv Sena said, “She was a socialist leader. She suffered a lot. Shiv Sena would never get along with her. This is a major project for Goregaon and it’s a good gesture that our party wants to name the project after her.”
The Shiv Sena, which rarely holds back when unleashing its wrath on competitors, has decided to honour an arch rival who had always crossed swords with its party members but ultimately earned their respect.
Four years after her death, the Sena has decided to pay tribute to socialist leader Mrinal Gore, fondly known as ‘Paaniwali Bai’, by naming the city’s second double decker flyover after her. The flyover – which connects Goregaon East and West – will be inaugurated today by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.
Gore, a corporator and MP from Goregaon, passed away in 2012. She had been at war with the Sena ever since its inception. She had on multiple occasions been subjected to the sharp barbs of the late Bal Thackeray, who often referred to her as ‘Puttana mausi’ (Puttana was a mythological demoness who wanted to kill Krishna in his infancy by breast-feeding him poisonous milk).
The firebrand earned the title of ‘Paaniwali Bai’ (water lady) due to her fight for drinking water supply for Goregaon, where she led many protests along with her contemporaries Ahilya Rangnekar and Pramila Dandavate. She was leader of opposition in the state assembly and was also elected to Lok Sabha in 1977. When she was elected MP in 1977, the election that Indira Gandhi lost, giving rise to the slogan, “Paaniwali bai Dilli mein, Dilliwali bai paani mein” (The water lady (Mrinal) reaches Delhi (Parliament) and the Delhi lady (Indira Gandhi) is in deep water). She declined the position of health minister offered to her by then Prime Minister Morarji Desai. She passed away in 2012. In her last few years, she was suffering from diabetes. Party sources said that Thackeray was disturbed as her medical condition worsened. “To remind the present generation of her achievements, I have prepared a four-page pamphlet describing her work,” said Desai.
Industries minister Subhash Desai of Shiv Sena, who hails from Goregaon, said, “She was from Goregaon but was a leader of the entire state. I always wanted to name one project in Goregaon after her. So when I spoke to our chief Uddhavji, he told me to go ahead. Balasaheb never agreed with her views, but he respected her. Balasaheb had once told me that while his fight with Gore will never end, he was impressed with her style of working and loyalty to the cause. She never compromised with her cause.’’
The flyover project is being executed by the BMC. The Sena has invited Gore’s daughter Anjali Vartak for the inauguration. “They had severe differences despite which the Sena has acknowledged her work. I am grateful to them,” said Vartak.
North West Mumbai MP Gajanan Kirtikar of Shiv Sena said, “She was a socialist leader. She suffered a lot. Shiv Sena would never get along with her. This is a major project for Goregaon and it’s a good gesture that our party wants to name the project after her.”
