Mumbai:
Mumba Devi is the deity of Mumbai, the country's financial capital, and the constituency named after her is on the verge of an epic battle this time. The three-time MLA from the seat is Congress's Amin Patel and his challenger from the ruling alliance is Shaina NC, who switched from the BJP to Shiv Sena after being given a ticket from this constituency ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
The political fortunes in the constituency had changed in 2009, when Congress MP Amin Patel won this seat, putting a brake on the BJP's long-term position. So far, Amin Patel has maintained his influence in this seat.
Although small, the constituency reflects the cosmopolitan character of the city.
This area was inhabited a long time ago and has not yet been redeveloped. Over the years, little has been done about infrastructure: dilapidated buildings, narrow streets, traffic and filth are part of Mumbadevi's daily struggle.
The constituency is Muslim-dominated, with the community making up 55 percent of the electorate. NDTV found that the Eknath Shinde government's Ladli Behen plan has found resonance in the community, but this does not guarantee votes.
The three-time Congress MLA from the constituency, Amin Patel, is confident of a fourth straight victory. But he said this would be based on his work on local issues and that religion had nothing to do with it.
“I am confident. We are working on cluster development,” he told NDTV.
Shaina NC reaches voters with her government's plans. “The voters will shift towards us. They will vote on Mahayuti's work over the past two and a half years. Women are happy. Ladli Behan Yojana is a hit,” she said.
The ruling alliance sees the Ladli Behan Yojana as a game changer.
When NDTV reached voters – especially women voters – from Kamathipura and Dongri areas in Mumbadevi, the plan was praised. But it was hard to say how much this will translate into votes.
“I didn't get the benefit, but other women in the house did. Mahayuti has done a good job. But Amin Patel is one of us. He comes to meet us. He is from the area,” said one of the voters. Others feigned indecision and said it's too early to make the call.
Local BJP leader and former minister Raj Purohit said Uddhav Thackeray faction member Arvind Sawant's derogatory comment on Shaina NC will backfire.
“People are angry. Just wait and see, they will teach them (the Congress candidate) a lesson. Shaina has done social work here. She's not new. The BJP is here,” he said.