Mumbai: The recent clash between Congress and BJP supporters for credit during the inauguration of a section of a flyover in Malad West underscores how crucial infrastructure development is perceived to be for voter support.
The Mumbai-North region of the city, encompassing six assembly constituencies from Malad to Dahisar, faces significant inconvenience due to delay in ongoing infrastructure works, apart from challenges such as stalled slum rehabilitation, encroachments on mangroves and forests under Sanjay Gandhi National Park, and traffic congestion.
Projects like the flyover at Datta Pada Road connecting Western Express Highway to the railway flyover bridge at Borivali has run into cost escalations since its approval in 2021. "People are upset with traffic congestion, many works are pending. They inaugurated half of the Malad bridge just because elections are approaching. Slum and building redevelopment are big issues but they are unable to show progress on these," said Congress leader Bhushan Patil.
Predominantly inhabited by an entrepreneurial class of Gujaratis and middle and working-class Maharashtrians, along with North and South Indians, the area is regarded as a BJP stronghold. It has large slum pockets adjoining mangroves and forests in Dahisar, Borivali, and Malad. BJP's recent parliamentary poll success—winning the only seat it contested out of six in the city—reinforces this perception. However, evaluating prospects of sitting MLAs and potential impact of anti-incumbency is complex. Out of the six MLAs, four are of the BJP, and one each from Congress and Shiv Sena; they are all two-term MLAs barring the one in Borivali.
Ganesh Khankar, who is BJP's North-district president and spokesperson said, "All our MLAs and MPs are workaholics connected to the ground. After Piyush Goyal's election, speed of work on various issues has been expedited. Roads, new hospitals, SAI ground, people have faith in us."
BJP's decision to replace a two-time MP, who consistently won by significant margins, with Union minister Piyush Goyal as the Lok Sabha candidate in 2024 showed the intent to consolidate in a traditional stronghold. Goyal continues to inaugurate projects and draw attention to works aimed at enhancing public facilities. He recently expedited handing over of a 37-acre plot in Kandivli to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) on a long-term lease for developing world-class sports and athletic infrastructure.
But will all these efforts rub off on MahaYuti candidates in the assembly polls? Firstly, Dahisar where Shiv Sena (UBT) may field the father or the widow of late Abhishek Ghosalkar, who was shot dead by a local businessman, will be a tough contest. Similarly, the outcome in Malad West and Magathane assembly constituencies is expected to be close.
In the past two elections, BJP has secured four of six assembly seats in Mumbai-North, with ally Shiv Sena holding one and opponent Congress one. The narrow margin between Congress and BJP candidates—935 votes in Malad in the recent parliamentary poll—has, however, revitalised BJP's optimism. Fielding Vinod Shelar against incumbent MLA Aslam Shaikh will throw up a keen contest, especially if AIMIM puts up a candidate who splits Muslim votes.
In Magathane, Prakash Surve who is with the Shiv Sena led by chief minister Eknath Shinde, is the MLA. The BJP is an ally but Surve needs the local BJP bigwig Pravind Darekar to back him. Darekar won the seat in 2009 on an MNS ticket, and the party will try to regain lost territory.
Among other issues, construction of rental housing at Madh Island for Dharavi slum dwellers and waiver of road toll are also issues that may have traction. This constituency serves as the western entry point to the city and residents often pay toll to travel even short distances.