Veteran Shiv Sena (UBT) Leader Vishakha Raut Launches Campaign in Ward 191, Focuses on Dust, Traffic, and Footpaths

Mumbai, January 2026: Vishakha Raut, a seasoned leader with decades of civic experience, officially launched her campaign for the BMC elections from Ward No. 191, covering Dadar-Shivaji Park and parts of Mahim, on Wednesday. Contesting on a Shiv Sena (UBT) ticket, Raut began her campaign by engaging with local residents, including senior citizens, and visiting key neighborhoods to highlight pressing civic issues.

Raut, a former corporator (1992–2002) and mayor (1997–1998), who was re-elected in 2017, enjoys strong support in Shivaji Park—a traditional stronghold of Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS. Over her 30-year political career, she has handled a variety of civic challenges, and this election she is focusing on three key issues: dust pollution in Shivaji Park, traffic congestion near the Siddhivinayak Temple, and improving neighborhood footpaths.

“Right now, residents are suffering from dust pollution. We tried sprinkling water twice daily, but that required tankers, which worsened traffic,” Raut explained. After detailed planning, five wells in the area were reactivated, allowing water to be sprayed via sprinklers twice daily, significantly reducing dust levels.

Traffic around the Siddhivinayak Temple remains a major concern, she noted. “Devotees park their vehicles on the roads during darshan, causing jams. My aim is to create dedicated parking facilities for temple visitors to ease congestion,” she said.

In addition to these primary concerns, Raut is working on improving basic amenities, particularly in older chawls. Many of these buildings lack proper water supply, and she plans to collaborate with BMC hydraulic engineers to address the issue. “Redevelopment of many old chawls has been stalled for years. If elected, I will prioritize this,” she said. She also emphasized enhancing footpaths to ensure they are safe and accessible for senior citizens.

Raut visited 18 buildings in areas such as Citylight Market and Dindayal Ward, appealing to voters to exercise their franchise responsibly. She is contesting against young Shiv Sena candidate Priya Sarvankar-Gurao, though she declined to comment directly on her opponent. Instead, Raut said she intends to meet as many voters as possible and hold street corner meetings in the coming days to engage directly with residents.

Ward No. 191 has a total electorate of 47,635, with approximately 70% Marathi voters, 10% Gujarati, and smaller populations from Christian and North Indian communities. In addition to addressing dust, traffic, and footpaths, Raut is also advocating for accessible healthcare services and other civic improvements to enhance residents’ quality of life.

By combining her long-standing experience with a targeted agenda on local issues, Vishakha Raut hopes to consolidate her support base and deliver practical solutions to the pressing problems faced by Ward 191 residents.