Lok Sabha elections 2019- South Mumbai reaches Malabar Hill-top; will Shiv Sena flag stay there?

The Congress may not be left far behind in the competition, with Muslim dominated area of Byculla seeing 53.01% turnout. However, Mumbadevi Assembly constituency that has a Congress MLA at present and is considered the party’s stronghold saw only 46.90% turnout.

In a surprise, voters from upscale Malabar Hill in Mumbai South came out in large numbers to vote, overtaking the remaining areas in this Lok Sabha constituency. Malabar Hill registered 56% voter turnout, higher than south Mumbai’s average of 52.15%.

Home to wealthy merchant and business families, the Malabar Hill Assembly constituency is known to traditionally support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and had come out to vote in large numbers in 2014 as well, when the Modi wave swept the country. (Pramod Thakur/HT Photo)

Home to wealthy merchant and business families, the Malabar Hill Assembly constituency is known to traditionally support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and had come out to vote in large numbers in 2014 as well, when the Modi wave swept the country. Going by the area’s track record, this high voter turnout could benefit the sitting MP and Shiv Sena candidate Arvind Sawant, who is facing Congress’s Milind Deora.

The Congress may not be left far behind in the competition, with Muslim dominated area of Byculla seeing 53.01% turnout. However, Mumbadevi Assembly constituency that has a Congress MLA at present and is considered the party’s stronghold saw only 46.90% turnout.

Sawant could get support in the Sena bastions in Mumbai South – Worli and Shivadi – that recorded 50% and 51% turnout, respectively. Both these Assembly constituencies are presently held by Sena MLAs. Sawant has been banking on votes from this region to take him to victory.

However, Sawant was met with some opposition from the fishermen of Worli, who boycotted voting on Sunday. The fishermen claim they are 10,000 voters strong. Worli Koliwada has also been a Sena strong hold, and has elected Sena corporators for over 20 years now. Nitish Patil, director of Worli Koliwada Nakva Matsya Vyavasay Cooperative society, said, “There are at least 10,000 fishermen in Worli. The Shiv Sena has lost all these votes.” Deora appears positive about his victory. A party worker from Congress said, “The Congress has fared very well in two constituencies of Mumbadevi and Byculla, both of which saw a decent voter turnout. But we have also taken a lot of votes from Malabar Hill and from Worli’s BDD chawls.” A Sena leader said, “Worli and Shivadi have voted very well, and we are confident.”