BJP's Kalidas Kolambkar exudes confidence in winning Maharashtra polls, aims to enter Guinness Book Record

By Suchitra Mukherjee
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 31 : Kalidas Kolambkar, an eight-time Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (MLA), exuded confidence in the forthcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, stating that he aims to enter the Guinness Book of World Records by winning his ninth consecutive term since 1990.
"I've been an MLA for eight terms and will break this trend and enter the Guinness Book Record after winning my ninth consecutive term," Kolambkar told ANI.
When asked what were his expectations while contesting the election for the 9th term and after remaining undefeated in Maharashtra polls, Kolambkar said, "In politics, nothing is surprising. If you approach politics commercially, it's tough, but if you do it wholeheartedly, serving the people, they'll surely elect you again."
"In my area, Wadala -Naigaon constituency history shows that once an MLA is chosen, they rarely get re-elected. But I've been MLA for nine terms, breaking this trend. This time, I will win my ninth term and enter the Guinness Book Record," said Kolambkar.
BJP has fielded Kalidas Kolambkar from the Wadala seat in Mumbai.
From Shiv Sena to Congress to BJP, Kolambkar has changed parties and constituencies but has not lost a single election since 1990.
When asked about his winning mantra and the way he connects with the people, Kolambkar replied, "I serve the people. Many media channels asked, 'Kalidas ji, what magic have you done to win people's hearts? My answer is simple- the people love me, and I'm connected to them I always think about their well-being that's all."
Asked about his transition to Congress from Shiv Sena and now BJP, Kolambkar said, "Since Balasaheb Thackeray was there, I have worked in Shiv Sena. My parents gave birth to me, but he gave birth to politics in my life and was my political guru. Narayan Rane and I worked day and night to take Shiv Sena forward. Shiv Sena was a party like gold but these people did not know how to handle the party, that was a big mistake. It is not good to say too much because that party gave birth to me and this is my principle."
"In 2019, when I joined the BJP to address the needs of my constituents, the then Maharashtra Chief Minister completed important projects in my area, including the redevelopment of BDD Chawl and the police housing colony, along with mill workers' wages. These initiatives continue to benefit the people of Maharashtra today," he said.
Asked about his thoughts on the Mahayuti's victory, Kolambkar told ANI, "Leaders like Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, and Ajit Pawar work tirelessly at the grassroots level, never hesitating to take decisions. They're effective handlers of situations. Mahayuti will win the Maharashtra polls. The opposing party's job is to criticize, and if they don't talk about winning, their supporters will lose interest. It's their business to oppose and praise themselves.
Kalidas Kolambkar, a seasoned Indian politician from Maharashtra, proudly stated that people of all religions - Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Parsis - love and have faith in him.
Kolambkar's journey into politics began in 1985 as a corporator. Before that, he worked as a calendar operator at Modi Store in Mumbai.
Reflecting on his challenging past, he recalled, "I didn't sleep for eight years, working day and night. I worked the night shift in my company and day time I worked for the society It was tough, but I persevered. My hard work paid off when I won my first MLA seat in 1990 after that I never looked back," said Kalidas Kolambkar.
The Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with the counting of votes for all 288 constituencies set to take place on November 23.
The opposition alliance MVA, comprising of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), aims to regain power in the state against the Mahayuti alliance, which includes Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Ajit Pawar-led NCP.