31 December,2025 10:20 AM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MS
Bandra Kurla Complex, a business district in H East ward, is responsible for the rapid gentrification in the surrounding areas. File Pic/Shadab Khan
Characterised by extremely active citizen groups, Bandra's H West ward has a history of some of the most astounding political swings in the city. The ward comprises Bandra, Khar, and Santacruz, with a mix of bungalows, low-rise old residential buildings, fast-developing gaothans, and traffic snarls caused by rapid redevelopment.
In 2017, the Bharatiya Janata Party bagged three seats in H West, up from its representation of only one corporator in 2012. On the other hand, the Congress lost three seats in the area, and bagged only one electoral ward, against four in 2012. While it is the home turf of former BJP Mumbai president and senior party leader Ashish Shelar, who was elected to Maharashtra's legislative body in 2024 from this seat, Congress's Varsha Gaikwad won the Lok Sabha poll from the area. It's lone Congress corporator and the face of the party from the area, Asif Zakaria, can no longer contest from the area due to BMC reservations this year.
The ward has repeatedly dealt with the issues of garbage disposal, especially with its surge in restaurants, pubs, and other bulk waste generators. On the other hand, the H East ward comprises areas that have a sharp contrast in terms of their demography. It houses the business district of Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), which is also responsible for the rapid gentrification in the surrounding areas. Approximately 55 to 60 per cent of the ward still comprises slum pockets. Due to repeated traffic snarls in the area, BKC and Kherwadi have also historically recorded the worst air quality index across the city.
Areas under ward: Vakola, Kalina, P&T Colony, MMRDA Ground, BKC, Kherwadi, Shivaji, Bandra Terminus, Behrampada
Characterised by: Major commercial hub of Bandra Kurla Complex, slums such as Behrampada and Bharat Nagar (55 per cent of land), traffic snarls during peak hours along Western Express Highway, large residential and semi-residential areas around the Mithi river
Population: 563,445
Density of ward: 437
Chronic waterlogging spots: 1, Khar Subway
Vulnerable populations: Settlements: 0
Open spaces: 14
Road concreting status: Partially completed: 37, Completed: 32, Not started: 17
Hanuman Tekdi, Golibar, TPS 3, Sen Nagar, VN Desai Hospital
Population: 57,315, SC: 1,355, ST: 166
Municipal Councillor (2017): Vishwanath Pandurang Mahadeshwar (Shiv Sena)
Votes received: 7,250, Total votes cast: 23,819, Winning margin: 30 per cent
Ward reservation (2017): Open, (2025): OBC
Tentative voters (2025): 45,071 (Male: 23,869, Female: 21,200, Others: 2)
Aagripada, Vakola, Davari Nagar, Pratiksha Nagar, Shivaji Nagar
Population: 51,736, SC: 869, ST: 289
Municipal Councillor (2017): Sadanand Gajanan Parab (Shiv Sena)
Votes received: 8,424, Total votes cast: 21,990, Winning margin: 38 per cent
Ward reservation (2017): Open, (2025): Women
Tentative voters (2025): 39,643 (Male: 21,315, Female: 18,292)
Lalbahadur Shastri Nagar, Gala College, Dhobi Ghat
Population: 60,888, SC: 3,516, ST: 397
Municipal Councillor (2017): Dinesh Kashiram Kubal (Shiv Sena)
Votes received: 8,682, Total votes cast: 27,853, Winning margin: 31 per cent
Ward reservation (2017): OBC, (2025): Open
Tentative voters (2025): 48,155 (Male: 27,145, Female: 21,007, Others: 3)
Kalina, P&T Colony, Korve Nagar, IA Staff Quarters
Population: 56,468, SC: 3,162, ST: 452
Municipal Councillor (2017): Tulip Brian Miranda (Cong)
Votes received: 5,952, Total votes cast: 20,036, Winning margin: 30 per cent
Ward reservation (2017): OBC, (2025): Open
Tentative voters (2025): 40,444 (Male: 21,238, Female: 19,203, Others: 3)
Vidya Nagari, Kole Kalyan Village, Yashwant Nagar, Police Training Ground
Population: 55,428, SC: 2,295, ST: 487
Municipal Councillor (2017): Mohammed Rafique Mustafa Husain Shaikh (Cong)
Votes received: 7,634, Total votes cast: 22,184, Winning margin: 34 per cent
Ward reservation (2017): OBC, (2025): OBC
Tentative voters (2025): 42,972 (Male: 21,751, Female: 21,219)
MMRDA Ground, BKC, Dhyaneshwar Nagar, Bharat Nagar
Population: 52,951, SC: 2,405, ST: 434
Municipal Councillor (2017): Gulnaz Mo. Salim Qureshi (AIMIM)
Votes received: 4,882, Total votes cast: 18,130, Winning margin: 27 per cent
Ward reservation (2017): Women, (2025): Open
Tentative voters (2025): 40,022 (Male: 21,305, Female: 18,710, Others: 7)
Government Colony, MIG Colony, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Udyan, Gandhi Nagar
Population: 58,014, SC: 10,462, ST: 897
Municipal Councillor (2017): Rohini Yogesh Kamble (Shiv Sena)
Votes received: 9,986, Total votes cast: 21,147, Winning margin: 47 per cent
Ward reservation (2017): Women, (2025): SC
Tentative voters (2025): 41,484 (Male: 21,238, Female: 20,245, Others: 1)
Golibar, Raje Sambhaji Vidyalaya, Jawahar Nagar
Population: 59,998, SC: 2,030, ST: 416
Municipal Councillor (2017): Pradnya Deepak Bhutkar (Shiv Sena)
Votes received: 8,617, Total votes cast: 27,851, Winning margin: 31 per cent
Ward reservation (2017): Women, (2025): Women
Tentative voters (2025): 54,162 (Male: 28,692, Female: 25,465, Others: 5)
Kherwadi, Shivaji Garden, Government Technical College, Nirmal Nagar
Population: 50,847, SC: 6,917, ST: 508
Municipal Councillor (2017): Chandrashekhar Vasudeo Wayangankar (Shiv Sena)
Votes received: 6,426, Total votes cast: 19,798, Winning margin: 32 per cent
Ward reservation (2017): Open, (2025): OBC
Tentative voters (2025): 36,614 (Male: 19,279, Female: 17,335)
Bandra Terminus, Behrampada, Garib Nagar, Bandra Court
Population: 53,594, SC: 1,484, ST: 134
Municipal Councillor (2017): Haji Mohammed Halim Khan (Shiv Sena)
Votes received: 4,052, Total votes cast: 19,135, Winning margin: 21 per cent
Ward reservation (2017): Open, (2025): Women
Tentative voters (2025): 39,253 (Male: 21,059, Female: 18,190, Others: 4)
Khira Nagar, Muktanand Park, Navyug Colony, MSEB Colony, Santacruz Bus Depot
Population: 54,224, SC: 1,884, ST: 715
Municipal Councillor (2017): Hetal Gala (BJP)
Votes received: 9,244, Total votes cast: 25,216, Winning margin: 37 per cent
Ward reservation (2017): Open, (2025): Women
Tentative voters (2025): 49,320 (Male: 25,653, Female: 23,667, Others: 0)
Dr Ambedkar Nagar, Khar Gymkhana, Rotary Park
Population: 57,680, SC: 4,152, ST: 213
Municipal Councillor (2017): Alka Subhash Kerkar (BJP)
Votes received: 12,581, Total votes cast: 22,571, Winning margin: 56 per cent
Ward reservation (2017): Open, (2025): Open
Tentative voters (2025): 46,474 (Male: 22,511, Female: 23,962, Others: 1)
Khar Danda, Danda Village, Govind Nagar, Koliwada
Population: 53,615, SC: 1,790, ST: 1,965
Municipal Councillor (2017): Sanjay Gulabrao Agaldare (Shiv Sena)
Votes received: 9,360, Total votes cast: 24,226, Winning margin: 39 per cent
Ward reservation (2017): ST, (2025): Open
Tentative voters (2025): 47,015 (Male: 27,114, Female: 19,899, Others: 2)
Pali Village, Patwardhan Park, Union Park, Pali Hill
Population: 53,000, SC: 1,707, ST: 138
Municipal Councillor (2017): Swapna Virendra Mhatre (BJP)
Votes received: 9,717, Total votes cast: 22,043, Winning margin: 44 per cent
Ward reservation (2017): OBC (Women), (2025): OBC (Women)
Tentative voters (2025): 47,007 (Male: 23,100, Female: 23,906, Others: 1)
Bandra Talao, National Library, Chimbai Village, Dr Bhabha Hospital
Population: 55,498, SC: 423, ST: 171
Municipal Councillor (2017): Asif Ahmed Zakaria (Cong)
Votes received: 10,587, Total votes cast: 23,563, Winning margin: 45 per cent
Ward reservation (2017): Open, (2025): Women
Tentative voters (2025): 52,006 (Male: 25,453, Female: 26,613, Others: 0)
Santosh Nagar, Bandra Reclamation, Bandra Bus Depot, ONGC Colony
Population: 55,470, SC: 810, ST: 121
Municipal Councillor (2017): Mumtaz Rahebar Khan (IND)
Votes received: 6,617, Total votes cast: 23,107, Winning margin: 29 per cent
Ward reservation (2017): Open, (2025): Open
Tentative voters (2025): 52,428 (Male: 28,666, Female: 23,755, Others: 7)
