A political dispute has erupted in Vasai-Virar over a demand that contractors from non-Hindu communities should not be awarded work related to Ganeshotsav arrangements, with the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and Congress condemning the proposal on Friday, September 11.
The demand was made by Ashok Shelke, a BJP group leader and former corporator, in a letter to the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation commissioner. Shelke reportedly asked the civic administration not to award work connected with the festival to non-Hindu contractors, including arrangements such as immersion pandals and barricading.
According to the report, Shelke said Ganeshotsav was closely linked to Hindu religious and cultural sentiments and that large crowds gather during idol immersions. He argued that the civic administration should consider religious and cultural sensitivity, as well as financial factors, while assigning work for the immersion arrangements.
Shelke also raised concerns about workers who come to the city from different states for employment. He claimed that the administration did not have adequate information about non-Hindu workers and warned that this could create a law-and-order issue in the future. He called on the civic body not to compromise on the matter.
The demand has drawn strong opposition from political parties in the city. Leaders of the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress described the statement as an attempt to gain publicity and objected to the proposed exclusion of contractors on religious grounds.
Pravin Shetty, a BVA corporator and chairman of the standing committee, said Vasai-Virar had experienced political differences but not religious divisions. He said residents from different communities had celebrated Ganeshotsav together for years and that some Muslim and Christian residents also served as office-bearers of public Ganesh mandals. Shelte’s demand, he said, would not be accepted in the city.
The controversy comes two days before Ganeshotsav, when the municipal administration and public festival mandals are reportedly completing preparations. The dispute has therefore placed attention on how civic authorities assign work for public events, including temporary structures, crowd-control infrastructure and immersion-related facilities.
The available report does not state whether the municipal commissioner has issued a formal response to Shelke’s letter or whether any change has been made to the corporation’s contracting process. The immediate administrative position on the demand remains to be established.
