Mumbai cardinal asks to vote for ‘good governance’

whichever party or candidate people choose to vote for, I exhort them to cast their vote.

Cardinal Gracias (Photo courtesy: gettyimages)

Mumbai:  Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the archbishop of Mumbai, says he want catholics in Maharashtra to vote for "good governance" in the upcoming state elections.

"We will appeal to voters to vote for good governance. India, and Mumbai of course, needs a government that promises inclusive growth, one that takes care of everybody," the cardinal told Times of India.

"Yet, whichever party or candidate people choose to vote for, I exhort them to cast their vote," Cardinal Gracias said.

Catholics have traditionally supported Congress party and Church leaders have in earlier occasions urged to vote for a secular party, which media interpreted as veiled support for Congress.

The Cardinal's call to vote for good governance is also seen as deviation from the traditional path as the Catholics in the city have taken firm political decisions, including to contest the polls as independent candidates.

East Indian community in the city has announced plans to contest the forthcoming assembly elections. Although they have formed a political party of their own named Maharashtra Swaraj Party (MSP) a few days ago, they will have to fight as independent candidates because the new outfit is yet to be registered, Times of India reported.

Civic activist Ashish Fernandes will contest from Dahisar while Andheri (East) will see Jancy Varghese join the fight. Prominent advocate Godfrey Pimenta, who is the trustee of the Watchdog Foundation, will stand from Vile Parle and his counterpart in Kalina is advocate Vivian D'souza.

D'souza is president of the Bombay East Indian Association. Advocate Shane Cardoz hopes to be elected in Bandra (West). All these social activists are contesting seats which have a sizeable population of East Indians.

However, this will likely fragment the Christian vote in Mumbai, which traditionally supported Congress.

During the 2014 Lok Sabha election, some priests made a slight diversion towards the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) saying the Congress had done precious little for Christians through the years.

However, since AAP is not fighting the assembly elections, the Christian vote will go divided between independent and Congress candidates.

Source: Times of India