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Known as the largest tribal region in Maharashtra, the Palghar constituency is facing problems of drinking water, unemployment, railway service and malnutrition among children, and the candidate who could address these issues is likely to steal the show.
Tribals apart, voters also include farmers, fishermen and urban population. Though the Congress has fielded sitting MP Damodar Shingda for the polls on April 30, known local leader and Congress MLA Hitendra Thakur has revolted against the party's decision and is believed to be backing Baliram Jadhav of Bahujan Vikas Aghadi.
Thakur's stronghold stretches from Naigaon creek to Boisar and has over eight lakh voters. Another cause for concern for Congress candidate Shingda is that his traditional support base of Bhiwandi has been excluded from the constituency post-delimitation.
The BJP has fielded former MP Chintaman Vanga, while the CPI-M, which has strong bases in Dahanu, Jawhar and Mokhada, has fielded former MP Lahanu Kom.
Vanga is focusing on 60 per cent of the tribal population in the constituency. "I want to provide them with employment opportunities, as most of the poor people migrate to Mumbai and work as labourers on construction sites," he said.
To woo tribal voters, BJP has announced that it would waive 'khavti' (short-term) loan of adivasis. It has also promised to increase budgetary allocation for tribals to 11 per cent in proportion to the their population.
CPI-M candidate Kom said, "We are addressing major issue of implementation of the Forest Act for giving back ownership of forest lands to tribals."
The Act was passed by the Centre but has not been implemented in the state. It facilitates tribals to own land for cultivation or any other use.
Kom is also against the direct local train service till Dahanu, which he feels would attract the urban crowd.
Ample land is available in the area but is not being used for cultivation due to scarcity of water, he added. "There are natural resources and dams too but all water has been diverted for the city," he said. | 
