BMC polls: How the BJP burrowed into Gujarati-dominated suburbs

The BJP’s performance in the recently concluded BMC polls with 82 seats has bolstered its confidence against its belligerent former ally, the Shiv Sena.

Days before the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls, the Shiv Sena ended its 20-year-old alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the battleground was set. Both parties were banking on the nearly 20 lakh-strong Gujarati community in the electorate.

The Shiv Sena has ruled the BMC, which has a budget of over Rs 37,000 crore, for the last 20 years.

Election department data has shown that areas with greater Gujarati population saw a significant increase in voter turnout.

Unsurprisingly, the Sena retained its hold on the in the Marathi heartlands of Mumbai, such as Dadar and Parel and some other suburbs. But that is not the interesting part: the western suburbs of the city were won by the Bharatiya Janata party, which most people have attributed to Gujarati and north-Indian communities extending their support to the saffron party.

For example, in Mulund, which has a strong Gujarati-Kutchi presence, the BJP won all six wards - 103-108 - quelling speculation that there could be some disillusionment because of demonetisation. In 2012, the party had won four seats in Mulund, the other two seats went to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party.

It also managed to gain in some Marathi pockets such as Andheri and Jogeshwari east.

In north Mumbai, between Dahisar and Goregaon, more than 50 per cent of BJP candidates were successful securing 32 seats out of 58.

In Borivli, BJP candidate Pravin Shah won by a massive margin of 19, 580 votes. Shah had earlier showed assets worth Rs 690 crore in his affidavit.

Fun fact: 26 of BJP's 82 winning candidates are Gujarati

In areas such as Borivli, Malad-west, and Goregaon (which comprise Gujarati, Marwari, Jain and north Indian population -- most of them in the middle and upper class), the party had impressive wins. In doing so, the Gujarati community has once again shown that it stands strongly behind the BJP. Clearly, they didn't care much for Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's attacks on their 'beloved leader' and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

So, there is no surprise that not a single Gujarati Shiv Sena candidate won the elections. Even Sena parachuting Patidar quota stir leader Hardik Patel to woo Gujaratis didn't work for the Sena.

The Congress was decimated -winning only 31 seats (from 51) - prompting the party's city chief to resign from his post. The MNS reduced to just 7 from 28, and NCP, 9.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, while congratulating workers for the BJP's performance in Mumbai, said that his party's win in the state was a result of people's acceptance of 'our agenda of transparency'.

Naturally, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray was all praises for the Marathi manoos, "I thank my Marathi sisters, brothers and mothers for voting for the Shiv Sena. I can't thank them enough. They have put their faith in the Sena for the fifth consecutive term. This is a record of sorts."

OneIndia News