How A Cultural Centre Became A Political Hotspot In Mumbai

YB Chavan Centre at Nariman Point has become a hub of political activities in the last few years

Source : ABP News

With NCP chief Sharad Pawar announcing his resignation from the party president's post to once again, in a matter of a few days, taking back the resignation at the party's request, the political temperature has soared in Mumbai. One of the places where media personnel have been gathering during the last week is YB Chavan Centre at Nariman Point. This aesthetically built structure is a cultural centre but in the last few years, it has become a hub of political activities.

On May 2, Sharad Pawar released his updated political biography in the auditorium of YB Chavan Centre. His explosive book is full of acrimonious comments against his party NCP's coalition partner, the Congress and the Shiv Sena. He made a few curt remarks against Uddhav Thackeray as well, referring to his performance as Shiv Sena's president and as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. 

But before the political reporters could glean through the pages and get their dope, Pawar dropped another bombshell at the same event. He announced his resignation as the party chief. Within seconds the news was all over TV channels and made it to the front page of the national newspapers the next day.

It is not the first time that an event happening at YB Chavan Centre has made headlines. Just four years ago, Sharad Pawar punctured a rebellion in his party sitting in this building. While the discussions were going on between the NCP, the Shiv Sena and the Congress to form the government, Sharad Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar rebelled and shocked everybody by taking oath as deputy Chief Minister with Devendra fadnavis, who became the Chief Minister. Ajit Pawar had taken ten MLAs along with him by lying to them that he had got Sharad Pawar's ascent for the move.

To do the damage control, Sharad Pawar swung into action and called a press conference at YB Chavan Centre along with leaders of the Shiv Sena and the Congress. He announced that Ajit Pawar has gone on his own and the NCP is firm to form a government with the BJP and Congress. He warned the MLAs with Ajit Pawar to return by evening, and non-compliance of his order would attract action under the anti-defection law. 

He asked other MLAs as well to reach the YB Chavan Centre. Pawar's warning worked and most of the MLAs registered their presence by evening. That night, all of them were packed into a bus and sent to a resort till the formation of the government. 

Although, the NCP has a grand office at Ballard Estate, Sharad Pawar mostly meets people either at his residence or at YB Chavan Centre. Being president of the committee that runs the centre, Sharad Pawar has an office here, which he visits almost daily. Hence, the building sees frequent visits from politicians. When Uddhav Thackeray's government was toppled last year, then also, numerous meetings of the MVA leaders were organised.

Established in the memory of Maharashtra's first Chief Minister Yeshwantrao Chavan in 1985, the building is deemed to be a cultural centre. It has a library and a cooperative bank. Classes for career guidance, computer skills, martial arts, performing arts and so on are organised here. The auditoriums are used for cultural events and press conferences.

So far, Thackeray family's residence Matoshree, the Chief Minister's residence Varsha, and the headquarters of the BJP and NCP in south Mumbai were the places where political journalists scoured for some scoop. Now, YB Chavan Centre has become a new hotspot in the political scene of Mumbai in recent years.

(Bombayphile is published every Saturday where Jitendra Dixit writes about the past and present of Mumbai.)

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