KALYAN: As the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) elections approach, Shiv Sena has signalled a clear shift in strategy by fielding new faces and young candidates, including a medical professional, in key panels. One such candidate is Dr Pooja Sanjay Gaikwad, who is contesting from Panel 13-B, making her one of the notable young entrants in the civic election fray.Panel 13 has been jointly allotted to the Shiv Sena–BJP alliance, with four candidates in the contest. Dr Gaikwad is among the candidates backed by the alliance, along with BJP nominees Saroj Manoj Rai and Vikram Tare, while Shiv Sena has fielded Mahadev Raibole from the same panel. The panel falls under Kalyan East, an area widely known as one of the largest slum-dominated regions in the city, where civic issues remain a major electoral concern.An MBBS graduate from DY Patil College, Navi Mumbai, Dr Gaikwad has positioned healthcare as the central plank of her campaign. She said that the area she is contesting from faces serious challenges related to women’s health, access to clean drinking water and basic medical services. “If elected, I will work with special focus on women’s health. Clean drinking water is a major issue here, and I will make efforts to replace old pipelines with new ones,” she told TOI. Highlighting the broader civic picture, Dr Gaikwad said that KDMC requires substantial improvement in public healthcare infrastructure. She added that as a doctor, she intends to use her professional expertise to strengthen health services for residents, especially those living in slum areas.Dr Pooja Gaikwad is the daughter of builder Sanjay Gaikwad, but her candidature is being projected by the alliance as a blend of youth, professional expertise and grassroots engagement. Her entry has added an interesting dimension to the contest in Panel 13-B.She faces a direct challenge from Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Sandhya Tare, while other UBT nominees in the panel include Sneha Tiwari, Madhur Mhatre and Kirti Dhone. With healthcare, water supply and basic amenities emerging as key issues, the contest in Panel 13-B is shaping up to be a closely watched political battle in the KDMC elections.
