Following a poor result in the last Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has focused its attention on the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) for the upcoming Assembly elections. The strategy adjustment, which was discussed during review meetings last week, attempts to counterbalance prospective losses in other parts of Maharashtra.
Bhupendra Yadav and Ashwini Vaishnav, the party's newly appointed state in-charges following its electoral defeat, held a series of talks with state leaders in Mumbai. The two also met with the Mumbai BJP's core committee to map out a strategy for the city.
MMR has more than 60 seats, and the BJP now has 26 MLAs in the region, said a Mumbai party leader on condition of anonymity. The government authorities fared well in the Lok Sabha election and will be able to preserve their influence in the Assembly elections. The BJP has a strong urban electorate base, and we can increase our performance in this region, the leader said.
The party's leadership has directed city leaders to expand personal engagement in Muslim-majority areas. While constituencies such as Mumbadevi, Shivaji Nagar, and Malad West may be difficult to win, areas such as Byculla, which has a more balanced Hindu-Muslim mix, might be won with targeted efforts, said the politician familiar with the discussions. The tactic consists of seeking to deflect some Muslim votes while consolidating Hindu support.
The BJP now owns 16 of Mumbai's 36 seats. Only three of these were trailing in terms of Lok Sabha votes. The party's standing in the remaining sections of the MMR is significantly greater. In Maharashtra, 48 out of 103 BJP MLAs were trailing, making the MMR the most attractive region for the party.
An MLA from Mumbai said that they have identified seats that can be wrested from the opposition with concentrated efforts. These include Bhandup, Vikhroli, Chembur, and Anushakti Nagar in the eastern suburbs; Byculla and Worli in South and Central Mumbai; and Dindoshi and Andheri East in the western suburbs.
The BJP intends to strengthen its booth-level systems and expand outreach initiatives. City officials have been charged with aggressively promoting the government's recently disclosed populist plans to voters.
As Maharashtra's political environment evolves, the BJP's strategic shift towards the MMR could have a significant impact on the outcome of the 2019 assembly elections. With the party's traditional strongholds under threat, its performance in this urban core may likely determine the party's political fortunes across the state.
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