Mumabi city is the combination of 7 islands in Arabian sea, which today has got a population of 1.8 cr which is a contribution of 1.6% of the total population of India. The Density of the population is 42,000 per square kilometre which is in some places as high as 66,000 per square kilometre. The origin of Mumbai dates back to 2nd Century BC when Mauryans occupied these empty islands and started it all. And these people later came to be known as Koli community. They lived till 1498 till the Portuguese acquired and then next came British 1668. East India Company was the one which leased Mumbai to Britisher Government for a sum of 10,000 pounds per year, which was huge in those days. Though the rich and famous it is also a city with a huge gap in the social classes. Mumbai has got 42% of the slum population which is highest in Asia.
Let’s look at Mumbai and it’s 7 Lok Sabha Constituencies
1. Thane – Situated in the Suburban Mumbai, Thane has been a strong seat for BJP and Shiv Sena from 1989. Only in 2009, INC+NCP Won the seat. This time also in 2019 it’s going to be Shiva Sena Vs NCP. Anand Prakash from NCP and Rajan Baburao is from Shiva Sena who is incumbent.
2. Mumbai North – A Strong BJP Seat from 1989 till 2004. Only in 2004 and 2009 INC won this seat but again lost in the year 2014. Gopal Shetty is contesting from BJP who is sitting MP and Congress replaced Sanjay Nirupam who contested in 2009 and 2014 to bring in Urmila Matodkar to add some star power.
3. Mumbai Northwest – This is the Strong Congress seat. Since the time this constituency was created till 1996, it was all Congress. Only in 1996 and 2014 BJP has won this seat. The reason for Congress winning this seat hands down was because of Sunil Dutt. Once he died in the year 2005 his daughter Priya Dutt represented and won in 2005. But then in 2014, this seat went to Shiva Sena. And for 2019 the seat has got Sanjay Nirupam against the sitting MP Gajanand Chandrakanth.
4. Mumbai North Central – The urbanized areas of Mumbai. Famous places like Bandra East and Bandra West are in this constituency. Has been a shifting seat, which went alternatively to different parties. It was Priya Dutt who won in 2009 but in 2014 though, Poonam Mahajan contested from here and defeated Priya Dutt. Yet again this is going to be battle between Poonam Mahajan vs Priya Dutt.
5. Mumbai North East – Another swing seat which had seen Pramod Mahajan contesting till he was alive. Once he died it was the famous leader Kirit Somaiya who was BJP’s Candidate who did a good job. It was in 2018 his strong comments against Shiva Sena cost him the seat. Manoj Kotak is the new BJP Candidate and he will be fighting Sanjay Patil of Congress+NCP.
6. South Mumbai – This is the richest constituency of the Mumbai rather I should entire Country. Big leaders from business and entertainment are part of this constituency. Which has been dominated by Congress but only in 1999 and 2014 it was taken by BJP. It was the famous politician Murali Deora the close friend of Dhirubhai who has won for 4 times. After his death, it’s his son Milind Deora who won it in 2004 and 2009 but then in 2014 it was Modi Magic which made Arvind Sawant new face of South Mumbai. The battles for 2019 is a rematch of 2014.
7. Mumbai South Central – Shiva Sena dominated seat except in the year 2009. Otherwise, it was all Shiva Sena and it is almost impossible for a party to defeat Shiva Sena. This will be the battle between sitting MP Rahul Ramesh and Eknath Gaekwad from Congress.
The major problems with Mumbai are low voter turnout which was only 51.5%, educated and working class have no reason to vote, that’s the mindset of Mumbaikars. Otherwise, development wise the major issues with Mumbai are the Roads and sanitation. The drainage system is extremely poor and BMC which is under control of Shiva Sena since 1993 hasn’t done anything better for the City and is in news for all wrong reasons. But then this is Lok Sabha elections and people have different reasons for different elections, so let us wait till 29th of April to see how Mumbaikars Vote.
Last time the Modi wave swept away everyone and BJP and Shiv Sena won all the 7 seats in Mumbai. This time Congress is putting up a big fight with film star Urmila in the fray and Milind Deora getting the support of industrialists like Mukesh Ambani and Uday Kotak. Will Congress make some inroads into Mumbai or will BJP-Shivsena do a clean sweep again, 29th April will tell.
