Maharashtra Assembly Elections: BJP’s Team North to pitch camp in Mumbai

The BJP is gearing up to strengthen its voter base in Mumbai ahead of the Assembly elections, with a focus on North Indian voters who form a significant portion of the electorate. After Navratri, a team of MLAs, MPs, and district heads from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar will arrive in Mumbai to lead the campaign. These leaders are tasked with rallying the party's loyal North Indian supporters and attracting new voters in key constituencies. The campaign aims to build on the growing support the BJP has garnered from North Indian voters since the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

North Indian voters constitute about 16 to 17 per cent of Mumbai's electorate. "The constituencies of Kandivli, Magathane, Malad, Dindoshi, Versova, Dharavi, and Sion Koliwada are primarily dominated by North Indian voters," said a BJP leader. "In a few other constituencies, North Indian voters can help secure a lead," he added.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with senior BJP leaders in Mumbai on Tuesday. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

The BJP aims to start campaigning after Navratri to retain loyal voters and attract new North Indian voters. "Our leaders from North India come to campaign during every election," said BJP leader Pawan Tripathi. "They will also come for the next Assembly election." He added, "We are a national party, and this will also help our leaders understand different cultures." Around 16 to 17 leaders, mainly MPs, MLAs, and district heads from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, will visit Mumbai for the campaign, according to a source who wished to remain anonymous.

"We have details on where North Indians live in Mumbai. If we engage with them and encourage them to vote for the BJP, it will be more impactful," he noted. These leaders will discuss the achievements of the Mahayuti alliance and highlight the negative aspects of the Maha Vikas Aghadi. "We will focus on every constituency in Mumbai," another leader added.

While the final list of leaders who will visit Mumbai has yet to be finalised, notable attendees may include MLA Ramesh Mishra from Badlapur in Jaunpur district in UP, MLA Ramesh Jaiswal from Varanasi, and MLA Avadhesh Singh from Pindar Assembly. From Bihar, MLA Ratnakar Thakur and MPs Sanjay Singh and Pradeep Singh are expected to visit as well. Each leader needs to visit at least one constituency, and two local office bearers will assist them in meeting voters, the leader added.