Bandra constituencies saw new political vigor with modest turnout, with East recording 50.36% and West 55.66%

Wandre constituencies East and West emerged as important battlegrounds, with Wandre West recording a voter turnout of 55.66% and Wandre East seeing a marginally lower turnout of 50.36%. These figures, while reflecting modest participation, underline the continued electoral importance of these areas.

Shelar vs Zakaria, a political rivalry rekindled

In Vandre West (Constituency 177), BJP's Ashish Shelar is contesting for the third consecutive time. Shelar, a prominent figure in Mumbai politics since 2014, has once again been challenged by Congress's Asif Zakaria, marking a continuation of their political rivalry from the previous elections.

Shelar's dominance in the constituency was strengthened in the 2019 elections when he secured 74,816 votes, i.e. 57.11% vote share, defeating Zakaria by a margin of 26,507 votes. His victory in 2014 was similarly decisive, with 50.93% vote share over Congress's Baba Siddiqui.

Despite its urban character and socio-economic diversity, Wandre West struggles with core issues such as urban infrastructure, road safety, housing affordability and basic amenities. Environmental concerns, particularly regarding coastal development, have also become important in shaping voter sentiment. The constituency, which had 2,97,716 registered voters in 2019, remains the focal point of the BJP-Congress contest.

The urban diversity of the electorate, which ranges from affluent residents of Pali Hill to working-class residents, is a significant challenge for both candidates. Shelar's campaign has emphasized infrastructural progress, while Zakaria has focused on community engagement and addressing the grievances of disadvantaged groups.

Wandre East: A three-way contest with political lineage at stake

In Wandre East (Constituency 176), the election is witnessing a fierce fight between three contenders, all from political dynasties. Zeeshan Siddiqui, son of sitting MLA and former Congress leader Baba Siddiqui, is contesting the elections from the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Opposing him is Uddhav Thackeray's nephew Varun Sardesai, representing the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction under the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has fielded former Shiv Sena MLA Trupti Sawant, turning the constituency into a tripartite battleground.

Vandre East, created during the delimitation process, has a diverse demographic profile including slums, Dalit and Muslim communities and a significant Marathi-speaking population. In 2019, Zeeshan Siddiqui won the seat by a slim margin of 5,790 votes, defeating Vishwanath Mahadeshwar of the undivided Shiv Sena. The constituency, which has 2,51,371 voters, had recorded a voter turnout of 50.37% in the last election.

Siddiqui's campaign is banking on his youthful energy and focus on developmental policies, while Sardesai aims to take advantage of Shiv Sena's traditional voter base and Uddhav Thackeray's family connections. Trupti Sawant's candidacy, though less prominent, has added an unexpected element to this already volatile race.

The constituencies attracted significant attention due to high-profile voters and security concerns. Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan cast his vote in Bandra with his family amid tight security. This comes after a recent death threat to Mumbai Police at Bandra station demanding ₹50 lakh. Similarly, days after Mumbai Police arrested a Jamshedpur man linked to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi for threatening the actor and demanding ransom of ₹5 crore, Salman Khan arrived to vote amid heavy security presence .

The constituency was also attended by cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, who urged citizens to participate in the democratic process, and Bollywood celebrities like Ranbir Kapoor, Gulzar and Javed Akhtar exercised their franchise in Bandra.

In Vandre West, a general category seat under the Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha constituency, BJP's Ashish Shelar is facing increasing scrutiny despite his past electoral success. Meanwhile, the multidimensional race in Vandre East is an example of the broader political shift in Maharashtra, where alliances are being tested and local issues are influencing voter sentiments.

With 260 polling stations in Vandre West alone, 273 booths in Vandre East and over 5.49 lakh voters in both the constituencies, the results here could provide important insights into Mumbai's changing political loyalties.