Mumbai: Mumbai is set to witness the climax of Maharashtra’s electoral battle as the fifth and final phase of the general elections unfolds on Monday. A staggering 2.46 crore electorate is poised to cast their votes across 13 pivotal Lok Sabha seats, including the six high-stakes constituencies of Mumbai. The day promises to be a defining moment for the 264 candidates vying for the public’s mandate in areas such as Mumbai North, Mumbai North Central, Mumbai North-West, Mumbai North-East, Mumbai South Central, Mumbai South, Thane, Kalyan, Bhiwandi, Palghar, Nashik, Dindori, and Dhule.
The political arena is abuzz with activity as heavyweight contenders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) like Union ministers Piyush Goyal (Mumbai North), Bharti Pawar (Dindori), and Kapil Patil (Bhiwandi) enter the fray. The BJP has also strategically placed the renowned lawyer Ujjwal Nikam in Mumbai North Central. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Shinde (Kalyan) and the Congress’ city chief Varsha Gaikwad (Mumbai North Central) are set to give a tough fight.
From dawn to dusk, the polling booths will be open from 7 am to 6 pm at 24,553 stations, setting the stage for a showdown between the ruling grand alliance and the formidable opposition. The grand alliance, comprising Shiv Sena, BJP, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), is pitted against the opposition coalition of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), Congress, and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar). With 10 out of the 13 seats nestled in the urban heartlands of Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar, the stakes are higher than ever in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
The current Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has deployed its stalwarts in Mumbai South, Mumbai North-West, and Mumbai South Central, while the BJP has fortified its presence in Mumbai North, Mumbai North Central, and Mumbai North-East. In a strategic move, the former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray‘s Shiv Sena (UBT) has forged a seat-sharing pact with Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) and Congress, fielding candidates in key constituencies.
The electoral tussle in Thane and Kalyan is a matter of prestige for CM Shinde, with both constituencies lying within his political stronghold. The intra-party rivalry of Shiv Sena factions is set to culminate in these areas. CM Shinde’s confidant Naresh Mhaske is contesting from Thane, while his son Shrikant Shinde represents Shiv Sena in Kalyan.
Palghar will witness a direct contest between BJP and Shiv Sena (UBT), and in the industrial town of Bhiwandi, the battle lines are drawn between BJP and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar). Dhule is gearing up for a BJP vs Congress face-off, while Dindori will see BJP lock horns with NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar). Nashik stands as the battleground for Shiv Sena and Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT).
As the election marathon nears its end, with voting already concluded for 35 of the total 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, the anticipation builds towards June 4, when the counting of votes will reveal the victors of this high-octane electoral contest.
