NEW DELHI: In a bid to reshape Mumbai’s political landscape, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) crafts an ambitious strategy aimed at uprooting the Shiv Sena from its stronghold in the financial capital. With three crucial parliamentary seats currently under the Sena’s sway, the BJP’s crafted masterplan aims to consolidate its power base by capturing all three constituencies, thus strengthening its prospects for the upcoming BMC polls.
Currently, the Shiv Sena holds sway over three parliamentary seats in Mumbai, with two under the leadership of Eknath Shinde, comprising Gajanan Kiritkar and Rahul Shewale, while the third is represented by Arvind Sawant from the UBT faction.
The BJP’s blueprint for seizing control of Mumbai rests on several strategic imperatives:
1) Leveraging Anti-Incumbency: The BJP intends to harness the prevailing anti-incumbency sentiment against the current Shiv Sena MPs, redirecting it towards a positive endorsement of the BJP, particularly under the charismatic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his transformative schemes.
2) Mitigating Division of Marathi Votes: Recognizing the potential for division among Marathi voters if Shinde’s candidates are fielded, BJP strategists aim to consolidate support by presenting a unified front. This approach seeks to counteract the Thackeray family’s sympathy base too.
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3) Capitalizing on Diverse Demographics: With a significant cosmopolitan and North Indian population in Mumbai, BJP sees an opportunity to galvanize support among these demographics, traditionally leaning towards the saffron party. By appealing to a diverse cross-section of Mumbai’s electorate, BJP aims to expand its voter base and strengthen its electoral prospects.
4) Extensive Campaigning and Roadmap for Governance: BJP is gearing up for an extensive campaign in Mumbai, leaving no stone unturned in its quest for dominance. With an eye on the forthcoming BMC polls, the BJP envisions a roadmap for governance prioritizing transparency, efficiency, and inclusive development, positioning itself as the harbinger of change in the city’s political landscape.
As BJP sets its sights on Mumbai, a high-stakes political showdown looms large, capable of reshaping the city’s power dynamics for years to come. With a blend of strategic acumen and grassroots mobilization, BJP aims to emerge triumphant, signaling a new era in Mumbai’s political narrative.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BJP clinched victory in 23 out of the 25 seats it contested, while its then alliance partner — undivided Shiv Sena — secured 18 seats out of the 23 it contested. The undivided NCP, as part of the opposition alliance, contested 19 seats and secured four victories.
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Looking ahead, the BJP eyes contesting more than 30 seats in the upcoming elections, aiming for the 370-mark in the 543-member Lok Sabha. However, differences have emerged among coalition partners over certain Lok Sabha seats staked by the BJP, such as South Mumbai and Thane, won by Shiv Sena, and Raigad, won by NCP.
The BJP’s aspiration for dominance is met with opposition from Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray-led faction, expected to secure 20-23 seats in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition. Amidst contentious seat allocations, the political landscape of Mumbai braces itself for an intriguing battle, where every move is poised to shape the city’s destiny.