Mumbai: We start our run-up to the general elections with a low down on the South Mumbai constituency
It's a constituency that's known for its rich residents, but where there are the forgotten poor too. It's also a
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ADVANTAGE: MP Milind Deora |
constituency that saw the high society come out on the streets to protest the government's failure to stop last November's terror attacks.
The South Mumbai Lok Sabha constituency has undergone a transformation after delimitation. Earlier, the constituency had the rich and upper middle class concentrated areas like Malabar Hill, Colaba, Opera House, Khetwadi, Umarkhadi and Mumbadevi Assembly constituencies. Now it also has the Maharashtrian dominated Assembly constituencies of Parel, Worli, Sewri and Byculla, which earlier fell into the South Central constituency.
BJP-Sena The number of voters in the constituency totals to 19 lakh, while earlier, it was just 7.5 lakh. Milind Deora, who now represents the constituency, will in all likelihood be the Congress candidate for the constituency. Deora won the 2004 elections with a margin of 10,000 votes against BJP's Jaywantiben Mehta. As of now, Deora has an advantage of being an MP who works for his constituents.
However, the future depends on the candidate put up by the saffron alliance. The Shiv Sena and BJP are in a tug of war, with reports suggesting that Poonam Mahajan was one of the aspirants, if the BJP manages to be one up in the seat sharing. But the Shiv Sena wants Mohan Rawle, a five-time MP from South Central Mumbai.
BSP too A Shiv Sena candidate along with BSP candidate Mohammed Ali would make the going tough for Deora. Ali, a dock businessman, has been systematically working in the constituency by funding community programmes. Ali may eat into the minority and lower caste votes of Deora.
However, it remains to be seen who the MNS nominates. A MNS candidate may eat into the Sena votes in its heartland of Parel, Lalbaug and Kalachowkie. Besides, a BJP candidate may force the Sena voters to vote for MNS candidate. This may go in Deora's favour. If the upper middle class do not come out and vote, Deora is likely to face trouble.
Election dates
The Lok Sabha elections will be held in five phases from April 16 to May 13 in redrawn constituencies, the Election Commission announced yesterday.
A total of 714 million electorates will be eligible to cast their votes on April 16, 23, 30, May 7 and 13. Counting will be done on May 16.
