Mumbai News: BJP MLAs Pledge Housing, Jobs For BEST Workers & Their Families

Mumbai: During a recent press conference on Mumbai, BJP MLA Prasad Lad has pledged to provide houses to BEST workers and job opportunities for their children. While, Mumbai District Bank will stand firmly behind The BEST Employees Co-operative Credit Society’s work, BJP MLA Pravin Darekar said.

Against the backdrop of the five-yearly elections (2025–2030) to the Board of Directors of The BEST Employees Co-operative Credit Society Ltd., MLAs Prasad Lad and Pravin Darekar, representing the Shramik Utkarsh Sabha led ‘Sahakar Samruddhi Panel’, presented key points in a press conference. The panel is a joint front of five organisations – Samarth BEST Kamgar Sanghatana, BEST Rashtriya Karmachari Sena, The Electric Union, SC/ST Welfare Association, and Bahujan Employees Union.

MLA Lad said, “In this Credit Society election, our sole aim is to safeguard and develop the institution by bringing together representatives of all communities. This is not a political party election, but one for those who work in the co-operative sector. If the institution survives, the co-operative movement will survive. I am firmly committed to ensuring that BEST workers get their rightful houses and that their children have access to employment opportunities.”

Lashing out at the opposition’s administration, he remarked, “The same kind of corruption seen in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation has taken place in the BEST Credit Society under the opposition. There was even an attempt to sell BEST, and today it is running at a loss of ₹3,000 crore. We have proposed alternatives – including leasing depots instead of selling them – along with other measures.”

In the press conference, MLA Lad clarified, “Our firm stance is that workers will not be left to ruin. With the help of Mumbai Bank, this Credit Society grew, but in recent years, we have constantly heard complaints of arbitrary management and corruption. We resolved the issue of more than 700 casual BEST workers, worked to provide rooms for workers in BEST depots, secured the COVID allowance, and ensured that ₹52 crore from it has been directly deposited into employees’ accounts.”

Exposing the irregularities in the Credit Society, he said, “An inquiry is underway, and our fight against corruption will continue.”

At the same time, Mumbai Bank President and MLA Pravin Darekar said, “We will provide all possible support to the Credit Society. BEST workers played a key role in strengthening the Shiv Sena, but the Uddhav Thackeray faction exploited them. We, however, stand firmly with the workers. Through the District Bank, we will extend the necessary assistance to the Credit Society. In the co-operative sector, our goal is to move forward together with everyone.”

Lad stated that the symbol of the Sahakar Samruddhi Panel is the cup and saucer, representing the unity of the five “Pandavas”. He added, “We are fighting this election for truth, and we are committed to restoring BEST to its former glory.”

The candidates of the Sahakar Samruddhi Panel declared that their main agenda in this election is to preserve the institution, protect workers’ rights, and eradicate corruption.