Lok Sabha polls: How Waikar joining Shiv Sena will help BJP strengthen hold on Mumbai North West seat

In a clear departure from the past, when the BJP and undivided Shiv Sena contested an equal need for seats in Mumbai, the right wing has now indicated it will have a greater share. While conceding the Mumbai South Central seat to the Shiv Sena, BJP is keen to field candidates in remaining five seats — Mumbai South, Mumbai North East, Mumbai North West, Mumbai North Central and Mumbai North.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, candidate of undivided Shiv Sena Gajanan Kirtikar had contested from Mumbai North West. He had then defeated Congress’s Sanjay Nirupam. After the Sena split, Gajanan Kirtikar joined the Shinde faction.

A couple of days ago at a party meeting, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray announced Amol Kirtikar as the official candidate for Mumbai North West. Amol is the son of Gajanan Kirtikar.

Although Shiv Sena has vied for Mumbai North West, BJP is likely to overpower the alliance partner citing the chances of winning.

Last week at a meeting held in Mumbai with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis, it was decided every seat will be determined based on ground reality and the criteria for chances of winning. The party and candidate who have merit to win the seat will be considered.

BJP insiders alleged they have a strong contender in seasoned politician Jaiprakash Thakur. The party bringing in a younger candidate like MLA Amit Satam is probable or it might even field someone unexpected.

The Mumbai North West Lok Sabha constituency has six assembly constituencies spread across Jogeshwari, Andheri and Goregaon. It has a mixed population dominated by North Indians and Maharashtrians.

The six assembly segments are Jogeshwari (East) — Ravindra Waikar (Shiv Sena Shinde faction); Dindoshi — Sunil Prabhu (Shiv Sena-UBT); Goregaon —Vidhya Thakur (BJP); Versova — Bharati Lavekar (BJP); Andheri (West) — Amit Satam ( BJP); Andheri ( East) — Rutuja Latke (Shiv Sena UBT).

In terms of party structure, Mumbai North West is complex. Among the six assembly seats, it has three BJP MLAs, one MLA representing Shiv Sena and two MLAs for Shiv Sena (UBT).

Although the Lok Sabha constituency is BJP dominated, the presence of Shiv Sena and the UBT faction in two assembly segments poses a challenge. With Waikar switching sides, it may work in the BJP’s favour.

Waiker, a close aide of the Thackeray family, had a strong foothold in Jogeshwari (East). The three term MLA has vast public connect. A senior BJP leader who closely followed his politics admit Waiker transformed the face of Jogeshwari ( East), which was once dreaded for communal tensions, especially after the 1992-93 Mumbai riots.

Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray dismissed Waikar’s defection as insignificant. “Just because a pebble has moved away does not make any difference. We also understand he was under pressure because of central agencies’ investigation.”

He added that the BJP had been harassing rivals by misusing central agencies.

While welcoming Waikar, CM Eknath Shinde said, “He was acknowledged for his good work under PM Narendra Modi and decided to join us.”

Waikar was under the Enforcement Directorate’s scanner and was subjected to interrogation recently. He was allegedly charged in a money laundering case involving a luxury hotel’s construction on a BMC plot in Mumbai that had been proposed for a recreation ground.

Waikar explained the reason he switched loyalties from Thackeray to Shinde was for the development of the constituency. “After all we are answerable to people. When you are associated with the government, it helps in drawing policies and projects for the public’s good.”

From 1967 to 2019, Mumbai North West constituency never had a BJP candidate. It was initially a Congress stronghold. Later, the Shiv Sena under Bal Thackeray’s leadership made deeper inroads in the western suburbs constituency.

Veteran lawyer Ram Jethmalani represented Mumbai North West twice in 1977 and 1980 as Janata Party (MP). Actor-turned-politician Sunil Dutt successfully contested from Mumbai North West in 1984, 1989 and 1991. His daughter Priya Dutt also won from this constituency in 2005. Former union minister from Congress Gurudas Kamat won from here in 200,9 defeating Shiv Sena’s Gajanan Kirtikar. Five years later Kirtikar defeated Kamat to become MP in 2014. Kirtikar also held a second term after winning the seat in 2019.