NCP had conducted a survey in Mumbai to understand the demographic changes in order to prepare for the BMC elections. According to the survey, two-third of the total voters in Mumbai live in the slums and chawls. The state government changed the geographic plans of the 227 BMC wards last year. The survey shows that the percentage of Marathi voters has gone down to just 36%, while the north Indian voters have gone up to 38%.
“Many Marathi voters have migrated to towns like Kalyan, Badlapur, Vasai and Virar looking for the cheaper housing options. Most of the remaining voters are scattered and do not decisively dominate BMC wards,” said Sachin Ahir, president of Mumbai NCP.
Gujarati voters amount for 12% of the total voters. Rajesh Verma, former deputy Mayor and a Congress leader said, “Gujarati voters are consolidated. The BMC wards in Kandivali, Borivali, Ghatkopar, Mulund suburbs are decisively dominated by these voters.” This is precisely the reason that Shiv Sena roped in Hardik Patel — to woo Gujarati voters. Harshal Pradhan, Shiv Sena's media coordinator said, “Shiv Sena will contest Gujarat assembly elections along with Hardik Patel. The meeting between Uddhav Thackeray and Hardik was not merely for BMC.”
Similarly, Muslims voters account for 16% of the total voters and they dominate constituencies in Byculla, Kurla, Bandra, Jogeshwari, Dharavi and South Mumbai. AIMIM, Congress, Samajwadi Party will be doing everything possible to woo these voters. Sachin Sawant, Congress spokesperson said, “We are sure that Shiv Sena-BJP are not going to win even a single seat in these 59 constituencies dominated by minority & Dalit voters. Shiv Sena is trying to contest the elections only on emotional issues.”
Sachin Ahir said, “We have worked for the issues concerning voters from slum areas. Even the educated voters will like our candidates and our campaign & agenda will be to cater to both these classes.” Congress too has identified 42 essential services, such as auto, taxi, security, laundry, milkman, vegetable vendors, domestic helps and Sanjay Nirupam, Congress president for Mumbai, plans to address these voters. Essentially, the 60% voters from slum areas will decide the fortune for these political parties in the nail biting contests of BMC elections scheduled on 21 February.