Mumbai: Taking a cue from the 2024 Lok Sabha poll results, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is banking on the Marathi-Muslim combination to repeat its performance in the city. In the LS polls, the MVA won four of the six seats in Mumbai. The Shiv Sena (UBT), which contested four seats, won three, defeating CM Ekanth Shinde-led Sena in two seats.
With brisk voting in minority-dominated and Marathi stronghold assembly constituencies, the MVA is hoping that, just like in the LS polls, the Marathi-Muslim combination will give their candidates a lead over Mahayuti candidates.
Sena (UBT) functionaries said that while Gujarati-dominated constituencies like Malabar Hill, Borivli, Ghatkopar (East), and Mulund saw high voting, conventional Sena strongholds before the split, like Mahim, Jogeshwari, Andheri East, Mahim, and Bhandup West, have also seen relatively good turnouts which are above the city’s average.
Political observers said that high turnout in Sena strongholds will prove to be the key factor in the Sena versus Sena battles, especially with the MNS also in the fray, and the way the Marathi voters tilt would decide the fate of the candidates. They also pointed out that some constituencies like Wadala, which have a sizable Muslim population along with Marathi electorates, have seen a high turnout, making the Marathi vote even more critical.
On Wednesday, seats like Mahim (59%), Wadala (57.7%), Sewri (55.5%), Worli (53.5%) and Byculla (53%) in the island city saw high voting. Similarly, in suburban Mumbai, seats like Bhandup West (62.9%), Magathane (59.4%), Jogeshwari East (59.2%), Andheri East (58.3%), Dindoshi (57.8%), and Vikhroli (57.6%) saw increased voting percentages compared to the 2014 LS and 2019 assembly polls.
Muslim-dominated assembly constituencies like Bandra East (54.7%), Malad West (54.9%), Anushakti Nagar (54%), Byculla (53%), and Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar (52.1%) also saw high voting. Only Mumbadevi (48.8%) saw relatively low voting.
Political observers said that despite the squabble over seat sharing and Congress only contesting 10 of the 36 seats in Mumbai, the MVA managed to put up a united front with coordination at the constituency level and is hoping for vote transfer between parties to help them win. Even smaller parties, like Samajwadi Party, chipped in to woo various communities, including minority voters, and give tactical support to the MVA candidates, which could give the bloc an edge.