E-Paper
Sena-Cong tussle for Mumbai South-Central seat
Mumbai South-Central Lok Sabha constituency would see a fight between saffron party Shiv Sena and Congress with the latter having an edge, apparently due to predominant Dalit and Muslim voters in the area.
Mumbai South-Central Lok Sabha constituency would see a fight between saffron party Shiv Sena and Congress with the latter having an edge, apparently due to predominant Dalit and Muslim voters in the area.
With a population of 15 lakh, the constituency comprises Anushakti Nagar, Chembur, Dharavi, Sion-Koliwada, Wadala and Mahim areas.
Despite the 50 per cent Marathi population, Shiv Sena's strong candidate and former Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi lost in the last election poll to Congressman Eknath Gaikwad by 13,329 votes.
After the delimitation, the Anushakti Nagar and Chembur areas have been added into the South-Central constituency which is again a stronghold of Congress.
Congress MP Gurudas Kamat had lead of 1.5 lakh votes from the area last time. Congress leader Narayan Rane also has a good control in Anushakti Nagar and Chembur areas.
"I have been elected from the constituency five times and confident that people would vote for my work," Gaikwad, who has been fielded by the Congress-NCP, told PTI.
He is popular in Dharavi and Sion areas and has promised to give 300 sq ft houses under Slum Rehabilitation Scheme.
He is mainly focussing on development issues, security and slow down in his campaign.
