As MLA waits for party ticket, is his performance in question?

GHATKOPAR (EAST) | Parag Shah still waiting for nod from BJP high command

- Rucha Kanolkar

The BJP's Ghatkopar (East) MLA Parag Shah has seen a decline in ranking in NGO Praja Foundation's recent 'Mumbai Report Card: MLA Ratings 2024', which evaluates legislators based on their performance from the 2023 to 2024 budget sessions.

This fall, from No 5 in 2023 to No 16 in 2024, has brought renewed focus on Shah's tenure and the civic issues in his constituency.

Shah, a property developer-turned-politician, was elected from Ghatkopar (East) in 2019. He was the richest candidate that year, with assets exceeding Rs500 crore. Shah's political journey began in 2017 when he was elected as a BMC councillor and his tenure as MLA is seen as a mixed bag.

On May 13, 2024, a hoarding collapsed on a petrol pump in the constituency, claiming 17 lives and injuring more than 60 people. The incident underscored lapses in regulation and enforcement, as the hoarding was allegedly erected without proper permissions. While the billboard owner was arrested, the incident revealed the extent of unregulated development in Ghatkopar (East).

In the face of the tragedy, Shah emphasised his proactive stance, stating, "The hoarding was an illegal structure, and I had personally complained about it before. Unfortunately, no action was taken in time."