From the Shiv Sena wooing minority voters with Muslim candidates to a tie-breaker in Ward 220, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections has seen political parties spring a number of surprises.
The Shiv Sena, however, did not venture deep into uncharted waters. A total of 78 of their 84 winning candidates were from the Marathi community. The party surprised many with its decision to field five Muslim candidates in Muslim-majority wards, and two of them went on to win, including Behrampada in Bandra. In the end, this strategy helped the Sena pip its counterpart, the BJP, by two seats.
The BJP, on the other hand, fielded candidates from all communities. Marathis, Gujaratis, north Indians and south Indians contributed to its final tally of 82 seats. In the western suburbs, 25 Gujarati and Marwadi candidates of the BJP emerged victorious. The party’s triumphant corporators include 17 north Indians and two south Indians.
The Congress despite its secular image failed to make inroads in Muslim-dominated areas. However, it still managed to top the list with 11 successful Muslim candidates. Also, all three Christian candidates that won in the BMC polls belong to the Congress. The party’s three south Indian candidates also emerged winners.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), with its dwindling support base, trailed the Congress’s record with six of its Muslim candidates winning. Of the 174 seats the party contested, three of its victorious candidates belonged to the Marathi community. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) was unsuccessful in widening its support base beyond the Marathi community. The party’s eight seats were won by Marathi candidates.
Riding on Muslim votes
A new entrant to the BMC, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) managed to win two seats of the 49 seats it contested.
The Samajwadi Party’s six seats were won by Muslim candidates.
