In Bandra, BJP sure of Modi wave, though MNS, Sena to split votes

MUMBAI: Bandra (West), where the dream dwellings of film stars are interspersed with slum pockets, is the quintessential Mumbai, where all its contradictions can be seen in their naked ferocity. These contradictions, and more, will be tested during the polls. Does the Modi wave persist? If it does not, who will benefit from the anti-incumbency factor? How impactful will the effect of vote banks be?

For some, like Bandra Reclamation resident and activist Vidya Vaidya, corruption, "the single largest reason for Bandra's deterioration", will be a major factor. "If you have money, you can buy anything in Bandra. One expects good governance, but it is totally lacking. If corruption is tackled, many of our woes will be solved," she said.

The candidates in the fray are sitting Congress MLA Baba Siddique and the BJP's Ashish Shelar. During the Lok Sabha election, BJP candidate Poonam Mahajan had a lead of 29,167 votes over her nearest rival, Priya Dutt of the Congress, in the Bandra (West) assembly segment. In 2009, Shelar had lost to Siddique by a narrow margin. Then, the MNS did not field a candidate (party chief Raj Thackeray and Shelar are close friends), and the BJP was in alliance with the Shiv Sena.

Shelar, an MLC, enjoys the support of a number of citizen activists, who are campaigning for him. He has a 'proactive' image, thanks to his works as a corporator from Khar. But this time, it will be quite challenging for him, as both the Sena and the MNS have put up candidates, dividing saffron votes.

Tushar Afale of the MNS is categorical that his campaign will be based on the blueprint released by Raj last week. "We are going to highlight the development work we plan to take up. We shall also talk of the work we have done in Bandra, despite

not being in power—be it removing illegal slums, ensuring that the Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir was built, or taking up the issue of hawkers," he said.

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