Former API Dr Vishal Mane joins Belapur race as independent candidate

Navi Mumbai: Belapur constituency in Navi Mumbai is witnessing an election season unlike any other, with independent candidates challenging established political figures and breaking away from traditional campaign methods.

These new faces also include former assistant police inspector Dr Vishal Mane, who resigned from his law enforcement career in October 2024 to begin his political journey as an independent candidate. At 39, Mane is establishing himself as a well-educated, dynamic and visionary alternative to strong political leaders in the region.

With a new vision for the Belapur constituency, Dr. Mane is confident that he is not just another political aspirant and he is someone who wants to bring about real change in the way politics is conducted in Belapur. With nearly 12 years of service in Maharashtra Police, including key roles in cyber security, crime prevention and citizen outreach programs. It was during these programs that he realized that the common man could not reach his representatives easily.

“I want to be accessible to the common man and elected people, first of all I will have an office space where people can contact me with their issues at any time. People need a change from regular politicians, and as an apolitical group, we have gained the trust of enough people,” Mane said.

He left the police department on 25 October and immediately, on 29 October, the last day of nominations, he filed nomination to contest the elections as an independent candidate. What sets Dr. Mane apart from many other candidates is his extensive educational background. He holds several educational qualifications including Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS), Master of Arts (MA), Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelor of Laws (LLB).

Maharashtra Elections 2024: Dr. Vishal Mane campaigns as independent candidate for Belapur. Photo Courtesy: Farooq Saeed

“I have always had goals in life. During my college days in Pune, I was extensively involved in social work. After joining the police department, my aim was to stay in the department for 10 years and then join social work and NGOs. But during my tenure in the department, I realized the need for an educated public representative and that is when I decided to pursue politics,” he said.

With the support of his family and friends, he feels that the goodwill he has earned as a police officer will translate into votes and he is sure that he can win the elections. He starts his day at 6 am by joining people going for morning walks. “By 9 am, I make sure to meet at least 1000 people daily. I have 1000 volunteers and each one hopes to get at least 100 voters who can help me win. I also interact with the public through video messages through WhatsApp.

If elected, Dr. Mane has a clear agenda for his work as an MLA. His top priorities include improving access to government services, addressing environmental and health concerns, and creating employment opportunities for educated youth.

Mane is also passionate about tackling the growing environmental challenges in Navi Mumbai and the need for a comprehensive health policy. He said, “For practical solutions to the problems faced by the citizens and an easily accessible representative, I would like to urge the people of Belapur constituency to select the 'apple' symbol while voting.”