Chandivali: Seat that withstood Modi wave

Chandivali is one of the few constituencies in Mumbai that the Congress was able to retain amid the Modi wave in the 2014 Assembly polls. This time, when the Shiv

Chandivali is one of the few constituencies in Mumbai that the Congress was able to retain amid the Modi wave in the 2014 Assembly polls. This time, when the Shiv Sena and BJP are fighting in alliance, the Congress is expected to witness a close contest with the Sena.

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The constituency includes Powai, Kaju Pada, Saki Naka, Chandivali, Kurla Village, Tunga village, among other areas. After the delimitation in 2008, the constituency was separated from the Kurla Assembly segment. It is known to be a stronghold of the Congress for nearly two decades. The Chandivali constituency has 20 candidates in the fray.

Four-term MLA Arif Naseem Khan of the Congress is contesting against Sena’s Dilip Lande, who is said to be responsible for defection of five of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s corporators along with him to join the saffron party in 2018. In 2014, Khan had defeated Sena’s candidate Santosh Singh, by 30,000 votes. Khan is confident about his victory for the fifth time. “A majority of the population in my constituency is in constant touch with me as I am easily accessible,” he said.

Lande, a three-term corporator from Kurla, is a former MNS group leader in the BMC and is known to have a good following among the Marathi population. A senior Congress leader said leaving MNS may go against Lande. He said, “MNS loyalists may not vote for him, which could lower his chances.”