Netas get taste of aam aadmi woes, alight from trains, trudge on tracks

MUMBAI: The city's lifeline, its local train, can be a great leveller. MLAs and ministers, just like the common man, were hit hard by the downpour that led to disruption of services of suburban and long-distance trains Monday.
Close to 10-15 legislators from both Houses of the state legislature were stranded in trains before Kurla and Thane. Some had to walk on tracks to reach Kurla station to try and reach south Mumbai, in time for the assembly session.Relief and rehabilitation minister Anil Patil legged it for 2 km on waterlogged tracks.
The opposition slammed the netas for walking on tracks when common people are told not to, especially on waterlogged tracks. In a post on X, NCP (SP) neta Clyde Crasto said: "Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnav, RPF. Isn't it illegal to walk and trespass on railway tracks? Whatever the circumstances, public representatives, just like other citizens, are supposed to obey the law and set an example. What action do you propose after seeing this video?".
Minister Anil Patil said he got the experience of crossing tracks for the first time in rainwater. He said he told railway authorities not to halt passenger trains between stations. "I've learnt that passenger trains must not stop between stations," Patil said. "If trains stop between stations, people get off and walk... There is a chance of them falling into a drain."
Videos of legislators hotfooting it on the tracks, with their PAs lugging their bags, went viral on social media. Bodyguards were also seen in tow. Most MLAs were on their way to Mumbai from Vidarbha and Marathwada. Stranded between Dadar and Kurla stations, he said 10 other MLAs kept him company. "This is a different experience... Common man has been hit by the rains," he said in the video.
Minister Hasan Mushriff from NCP (Ajit Pawar) got off from Mahalaxmi Express at Kalyan and took a car to reach Vidhan Bhavan. Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad said, "We were told there are massive traffic snarls. So, some of the MLAs stayed on the train, and others walked."