05 May,2024 02:05 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Ujjwal Nikam and Varsha Gaikwad
The Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat, also known as "mini Mumbai," includes a diverse mix of wealthy regions such as Bandra and Khar, as well as the bustling lanes of Kurla, making it a microcosm of the city's variegated population.
Ujjwal Nikam, a renowned lawyer who has prosecuted high-profile cases like as the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, is making his political debut with Lok Sabha Elections 2024 as the BJP's candidate. He is up against Varsha Gaikwad, the Congress' Mumbai unit president and Dharavi MLA.
Poonam Mahajan of the BJP won the constituency, which had previously been a Congress bastion, in 2014 and retained it in 2019. However, Congress is optimistic that it will reclaim the seat this time.
Traffic congestion, infrastructural shortcomings, and pollution are among the constituency's major worries, and ongoing projects such as slum redevelopment and metro rail development try to address these.
Nikam intends to focus on legislative reforms for the development of society and the strengthening of extradition laws, whilst Gaikwad emphasises the fight to preserve democracy and constitutional ideals.
"I want to work towards framing laws for the better future of people and also amend extradition laws to ensure more criminals are brought back to the country to face justice," Ujjwal Nikam had said stating that leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is essential to the advancement and development of the nation.
Both candidates have launched their Lok Sabha Elections 2024 campaigns, with Gaikwad garnering support from Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, illustrating the alliances that are changing the political scene.
The BJP highlighted Nikam's track record in high-profile cases, whilst Congress supporters saw Gaikwad as the best candidate to retake the seat in Lok Sabha Elections 2024. Despite the rift in the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, local dynamics and party loyalty are expected to impact the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 outcome.
