Former navy officer joins contest

Mumbai: One wonders why a former commander of India's first aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and an officer who took part in the Indo-Pakistan war would want to jump into the elections fray, a field where once men and women from upright backgrounds feared to tread.

"The main reason people do not vote is because of the cynicism towards political parties, tainted candidates and poor performance in governance," says ex-naval Captain Vijay Shivdasani, 69, who is standing as an Independent from ward number 227, a constituency comprising Colaba and Navy Nagar in South Mumbai.

With a ceiling fan as a symbol, he, as the selected candidate of the Mumbai-227 movement, is pitted against 12 candidates who, he says, "are angry and see me as a challenge. This is a good thing."

Speaking to Gulf News on his decision to contest the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections the ex-naval officer said he felt it was hard for voters to find "credible, educated candidates of calibre because such people shun politics. For these reasons, I have decided to offer myself — to do the best for Mumbai where I live, for south Colaba where I was born and for Navy Nagar where I spent many years in uniform."

He is confident his experience in the Indian Navy and in holding offices dealing with civic issues post-retirement will take him far in the BMC if elected. Improving facilities like water supply and roads, water sports, marine parks and eradicating corruption are some key promises in his campaign.

‘Time and inclination'

"As a serviceman, dedication to my country and people is paramount. The motto — Service before Self — was deeply ingrained at an early age and has been uppermost in peace and war," says Shivdasani.

He has held the responsibility of sailing and commanding numerous warships, been the commander of an operational aircraft carrier, Vikrant, and operations officer during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, apart from being the head of the Navy's Signals Establishment, Kochi.

Semi-retired he says, he has had the "time and inclination to devote to jobs associated with civic matters — such as being the secretary of his building… and founder and trustee of the Maritime Heritage Foundation."