Gawli sisters campaign in Mumbai civic polls

Geeta and Yogita Gawli Campaign for Civic Polls in Byculla

MUMBAI: Geeta Gawli, 42, a three-time corporator, and her sister Yogita, 37, are campaigning daily in their municipal wards—212 and 207 respectively—in Byculla ahead of the civic polls on January 15. The sisters belong to the Akhil Bharatiya Sena (ABS), a party founded by their father, gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli. They have a clear vision of the leaders they want to be.

“Like Daddy,” is Geeta’s response when asked about her leadership style. Both sisters proudly embrace the “Daddy’s girl” label this election season.

In Byculla’s Dagdi Chawl, the name ‘Daddy’ holds significant weight. Arun Gawli, a former MLA, is often seen in a white kurta and a Gandhi topi. He has carried this title for decades. In September last year, Gawli was released on bail by the Supreme Court after being convicted in the 2007 murder of Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar. Now 76, Gawli spent 18 years in prison.

The influence of Gawli is felt through his daughters and wife Asha, known as Mummy, even though he is not actively campaigning. “People will go crazy if he comes with us. We won’t know how to handle such a crowd,” said Yogita, who recently gave birth to her second daughter.

Gawli is expected to join Geeta and Yogita in their campaigns this weekend.

On Wednesday afternoon, the sisters and their mother took a break in their office at the Geetai building in Dagdi Chawl after a busy morning of campaigning. They climbed several flights of stairs in about 12 buildings without lifts.

“Redevelopment is one of the main issues in my ward,” said Geeta. Her ward, dominated by Marathi voters, also has a sizable Muslim population. “They were worried about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the Election Commission of India,” she added. Their campaign includes addressing misinformation about the drive that is yet to be enforced in Maharashtra. “We have to keep telling people it’s not going to affect them,” said Yogita.

Later that afternoon, Yogita, her husband actor Akshay Waghmare, and Mummy visited Shambhulal Patra Chawl, which houses 106 families. Yogita, who has a master’s in political science and a law degree, is seen as a young and educated leader. Residents trust her as she promises to work “Daddyinchya paula var paul thevun (following in Daddy’s footsteps).” Her main opponent is BJP’s Rohidas Lokhande.

With Mummy by her side, Yogita walks through the narrow lanes of the chawl. “These people have been connected with us for many years. See how the old women hug me when I come here. They have seen me struggle. I also faced the police that broke into our home at night. Even when Daddy was jailed, I looked after their needs. I have no doubt they will support Yogita,” said Asha.

Geeta is confident about winning again in her ward. She believes she has a good rapport with the electorate and civic administration. “People know that we get things done through one phone call. We attend to their problems promptly, just as Daddy always did. We’ve repaired roads, buildings, the BMC school, installed street lamps, and built parks, including a baby park for women from the Muslim community,” said Geeta.

In ward 212, reserved for women, Geeta’s opponents include Congress’s Nazia Ashfaque Siddiqui and Samajwadi Party’s Amrin Abhrani.

While Dagdi Chawl is now surrounded by high-rises, Geeta is not worried about the changing demographics. “What do people in buildings want? They want good roads. And we’ve done that for them too,” she said.

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