Maharashtra: Bypoll outcome might portend how politics in state performs out

The Andheri East constituency, with a voter base of roughly 2.78 lakh, has seen a Sena candidate win two of the three meeting elections which were carried out since its formation in 2009.

As almost one in each third voter within the constituency is a Marathi-speaking individual, the inhabitants profile gave the Sena a bonus, making it a dominant participant. The late Ramesh Latke contested three elections on a Sena ticket, dropping the 2009 polls to Congress candidate Suresh Shetty after which occurring to win the seat twice within the 2014 and 2019 Meeting elections.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena is banking on this help to assist it retain the essential seat. A lead to its favour would be the signal of a seismic restoration for the Thackeray-led Sena as this shall be its first electoral battle after dealing with a vertical break up within the wake of a rise up spearheaded by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and different MLAs. Whereas the Shinde faction has not fielded its candidate, will probably be supporting the BJP candidate. The BJP-Shinde alliance and the Uddhav-led Sena shall be pitted in opposition to one another within the election, with the latter getting help from NCP and Congress, its MVA allies.

The BJP, in the meantime, is banking on the help of the big Gujarati and Marwadi inhabitants, which accounts for shut to fifteen per cent of the constituency’s residents. It’s also banking on the goodwill of its candidate, former corporator Murji Patel, who was propped up by the social gathering and fought as an impartial within the 2019 Meeting elections, despite the BJP having an alliance with the Shiv Sena.

Patel had obtained over 45,000 votes and emerged as a runner-up to Latke, dropping by 17,000 votes. The BJP is hopeful {that a} break up within the Sena’s help base and the consolidation of its personal voter base will assist Patel cross the profitable line this time.

The political dynamics

There are a complete of eight civic electoral wards on this Meeting constituency, of which 4 fall in its jurisdiction fully, whereas the opposite 4 are partly divided between Andheri East, Jogeshwari, and Vile Parle meeting constituencies.

Of the 4 wards that fall fully within the constituency, BJP received in three wards and Shiv Sena in a single within the 2017 civic polls.
Within the one ward received by the Sena candidate, the BJP candidate was the runner-up, whereas within the three wards that the BJP received in, the runners-up have been from Sena and Congress.