Elections

Clean sweep for BJP-Shiv Sena in Mumbai; Stars fail to power Congress

Our Bureau Mumbai | Updated on May 23, 2019 Published on May 23, 2019

Shiv Sena supporters celebrate the victory outside Shiv Sena Bhavan at Dadar in Mumbai on Thursay - Shashi Ashiwal

Milind Deora, Urmila Matondkar bite the dust

It was once again a clean sweep for the BJP-Shiv Sena combine in Mumbai.

The Modi wave, which was a big factor in the NDA’s win across the country, seems to have swept into Mumbai as well despite concerns over railway infrastructure, slum rehabilitation and metro rail projects.

Efforts by the Congress, which also initially faced infighting, to woo voters with Bollywood glamour by fielding actress Urmila Matondkar and campaigns by actors such as Sanjay Dutt for his sister Priya Dutt as well as endorsements from industrialist Mukesh Ambani and veteran banker Uday Kotak for Deora do not seem to have impressed the voters much.

BJP candidate Manoj Kotak, a three-time corporator who replaced Kirit Somaiya as the party’s candidate, won from Mumbai North by a margin of 2.26 lakh votes against the NCP’s Sanjay Dina Patil.

In Mumbai South Central constituency, Rahul Shewale of the Shiv Sena won by a margin of 1.52 lakh votes against the Congress Party’s Eknath Gaikwad.

Despite her star power, actress Urmila Matondkar was trailing by a massive 3.95 lakh votes against BJP MP Gopal Shetty in Mumbai North late on Thursday evening.

Alleging a glitch in the Electronic Voting Machines in Magathane constituency, Matondkar filed a complaint with the Election Commission. “On the form of EVM 17C from Magathane, the signatures and the machine numbers are different. A complaint has been filed with the Election Commission,” she tweeted.

Mumbai Congress President Milind Deora was also trailing in Mumbai South constituency by 1 lakh votes behind the Shiv Sena’s Arvind Sawant.

“I hope all MPs will make an impact in the Lok Sabha on issues that matter to the development and progress of Mumbai. Though political adversaries, the MPs can count on my cooperation and support in the interest of the city,” he said.

Congress candidate Priya Dutt was also trailing behind BJP’s Poonam Mahajan in Mumbai North Central as was senior Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam in Mumbai North West constituency.