While the BJP is fighting from Mumbai North, Mumbai North East and Mumbai North Central, Shinde Sena is contesting from Mumbai North West, Mumbai South and Mumbai South Central.
Mumbai’s six seats include Mumbai North, Mumbai North East, Mumbai North West, Mumbai North Central, Mumbai South and Mumbai South Central.
In 2019, three of Mumbai’s seats went to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — Gopal Shetty (Mumbai North), Manoj Kotak (Mumbai North East) and Poonam Mahajan (Mumbai North Central).
The remaining three were won by the Shiv Sena — Gajanan Kirtikar (Mumbai North West), Rahul Shewale (Mumbai South Central) and Arvind Sawant (Mumbai South).
The past five elections & 2024: In 1999, BJP’s Kirit Somaiya won against Congress’s Gurudas Kamat by a margin of 7,000 votes.
As the political battle for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 heats up in Mumbai, the Bharatiya Janata Party-Eknath Shinde Sena’s seat-sharing formula for the maximum city became clear on Tuesday — 3:3. Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is not contesting in Mumbai. The city will vote on May 20 and the counting will be held on June 4.
While the BJP is fighting from Mumbai North, Mumbai North East and Mumbai North Central, Shinde Sena is contesting from Mumbai North West, Mumbai South and Mumbai South Central.
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Of the 48 seats in Maharashtra, Mumbai accounts for six, while the adjoining Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) has four. Mumbai’s six seats include Mumbai North, Mumbai North East, Mumbai North West, Mumbai North Central, Mumbai South and Mumbai South Central. The MMR has Thane, Kalyan, Bhiwandi and Palghar.
In 2019, three of Mumbai’s seats went to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — Gopal Shetty (Mumbai North), Manoj Kotak (Mumbai North East) and Poonam Mahajan (Mumbai North Central). The remaining three were won by the Shiv Sena — Gajanan Kirtikar (Mumbai North West), Rahul Shewale (Mumbai South Central) and Arvind Sawant (Mumbai South).
However, between 2019 and 2024, the Sena has split into Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde-led and Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) factions; and the Nationalist Congress Party has Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar factions.
The elections will be fought with two alliances – the ruling Mahayuti comprising BJP, NCP (Ajit Pawar) and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) faction and the MVA or Maha Aghadi, with Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar) and Congress.
Here’s everything you need to know about the six seats in Mumbai.
MUMBAI NORTH
The constituency covers Dahisar, Magathane, Borivali, Kandivali, Malad and Goregaon.
Demographics: Hindus in majority, followed by Muslims, SC, Buddhists, Christian and Jains. It has a large number of Maharashtrian, Gujarati and north Indian voters.
Sitting MP: Gopal Shetty (BJP)
Gopal Shetty (BJP) Candidates Announced: Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal (BJP)
The 2019 Fight: The constituency was in the news in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, as the Congress pitted actor Urmila Matondkar against then incumbent Shetty. It saw a voter turnout of 71%. Shetty emerged a strong winner, with around 71% vote share, while Matondkar was a distant second at 24%.
The past five elections & 2024: In 1999, BJP’s Ram Naik defeated Chandrakant Gosalia (Congress) to become the MP. In a surprise, Naik was, however, ousted in 2004 by Congress’s actor candidate Govinda. Ahead of the 2024 polls, Govinda has now joined the Shinde Sena. With the MNS vote split, in 2009, Sanjay Nirupam registered a win for the Congress, beating Naik by mere 5,000 votes. In 2014, amid the Modi wave, Shetty defeated Nirupam. Shetty retained the seat in 2019, against Congress’s another actor candidate Matondkar. In 2024, Mumbai-born Goyal’s name came as surprise as he is a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP), with a substantial portion of his term left. He may have it easy as the constituency is now a BJP bastion.
Prominent MPs: Mrinal Gore, Ram Naik
MUMBAI NORTH WEST
The constituency covers Jogeshwari East, Dindoshi, Goregaon, Versova, Andheri West and Andheri East.
Demographics: Hindus in majority, followed by Muslims, SC, Buddhists, Christians and Jains. It is dominated by Maharashtrians, followed by Muslims, Gujaratis, Rajasthanis and south Indians.
Sitting MP: Gajanan Kirtikar (Shiv Sena), who is now with the Shinde faction
Gajanan Kirtikar (Shiv Sena), who is now with the Shinde faction Candidates Announced: Amol Kirtikar (Sena UBT), Ravindra Waikar (Shinde Sena)
The 2019 Fight: Sena’s Kirtikar defeated Congress’s Sanjay Nirupam in the constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. It saw a voter turnout of 54.26%. While Kirtikar got 61% vote share, Nirupam was at 33%.
The past five elections & 2024: In 1999, actor-activist Sunil Dutt won the seat for the Congress, defeating Sena’s Madhukar Sarpotdar. He retained the seat in 2004. Dutt’s daughter Priya beat Nirupam, who then contested from Sena, in 2005, after the death of her father. In 2009, Gurudas Kamat (Congress) defeated Kirtikar. However, Kirtikar turned the tables in 2014, beating Kamat. That year also saw Mahesh Manjrekar contesting from the constituency on an MNS ticket. He stood third. Kirtikar retained the seat in 2019, defeating Congress’s Nirupam. While Nirupam was eyeing this seat, the announcement of Kirtikar’s son’s name irked him and he even said he wouldn’t campaign for “khichdi chor", referring to his alleged involvement in the khichdi scam. His remarks led to his expulsion from the Congress. Govinda’s name is doing the rounds as likely Shinde Sena candidate.
Prominent MPs: Ram Jethmalani, Sunil Dutt
MUMBAI NORTH EAST
The constituency covers areas of Mulund, Vikhroli, Bhandup West, Ghatkopar West, Ghatkopar East, Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar
Demographics: While Hindus are in majority, several pockets are dominated by Gujaratis, Maharashtrians and Muslims.
Sitting MP: Manoj Kotak (BJP)
Manoj Kotak (BJP) Candidates Announced: Sanjay Dina Patil (Sena UBT), Mihir Kotecha (BJP)
The 2019 Fight: BJP’s Kotak defeated Patil (NCP) in the constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. It saw a voter turnout of 57.15%. While Kotak got 57% vote share, Patil was at 32%. In 2019, Patil switched over to the Sena and is now with the Uddhav faction.
The past five elections & 2024: In 1999, BJP’s Kirit Somaiya won against Congress’s Gurudas Kamat by a margin of 7,000 votes. 2004 saw another close fight with Kamat defeating Somaiya by 99,000 votes. In 2009, Sanjay Dina Patil won the seat. In 2014, Somaiya upped the game, winning by a clear margin. A distant third, AAP’s Medha Patkar, kept the constituency in the news. In 2019, Kotak retained the seat for the BJP. However, the saffron party has in 2024 replaced Kotak with Kotecha.
Prominent MPs: Pramod Mahajan, Gurudas Kamat
MUMBAI NORTH CENTRAL
The constituency covers areas of Vile Parle, Chandivali, Kurla, Kalina, Vandra West and Vandra East.
Demographics: Hindus in majority, followed by Muslims, SC and ST population. It is dominated by Maharashtrians, followed by Muslims, north Indians and Gujarati/Rajasthanis.
Sitting MP: Poonam Mahajan (BJP)
Poonam Mahajan (BJP) Candidates Announced: Varsha Gaikwad (Congress); Ujjwal Nikam (BJP)
The 2019 Fight: BJP’s Mahajan defeated Congress’s Priya Dutt in this constituency in the 2019 elections. The voter turnout was 53.67%.
The past five elections & 2024: In 1999, Sena’s the late Manohar Joshi won the seat against Rajan Dhale (Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh). The next election in 2004 saw a close fight between Joshi and Congress’s Eknath Gaikwad. Gaikwad won the seat by 13,000 votes. In 2009, Congress’s Priya Dutt beat BJP’s Mahesh Jethmalani on the seat. MNS’s Shilpa Sarpotdar was a close third. The 2014 Modi wave helped Mahajan win against Priya Dutt. The duo maintained the spots in 2019 too.
Prominent MPs: Manohar Joshi, Ramdas Athavale, Manohar Joshi, Priya Dutt
MUMBAI SOUTH
The constituency covers areas of Worli, Shivadi, Byculla, Malabar Hill, Mumbadevi and Colaba.
Demographics: Hindus in majority, followed by Muslims, SC and ST population. It has a significant Muslim population along with a Marathi electorate.
Sitting MP: Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena)
Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena) Candidates Announced: Arvind Sawant (Sena UBT), Yamini Yashwant Jadhav (Shinde Sena)
The 2019 Fight: Sena’s Sawant saw a smooth win against Milind Deora (Congress) in this constituency in the 2019 elections. The voter turnout was 53%. Milind Deora recently joined the Shinde Sena.
The past five elections & 2024: In 1999, BJP’s Jaywantiben Mehta defeated Congress’s Murli Deora by 10,000 votes. In 2004, his son Milind beat Mehta, again by 10,000 votes. 2009 saw an interesting fight in which Milind won against MNS’s Bala Nandgaonkar. Sena’s Mohan Rawale stood third. In 2014, Sena’s Sawant defeated Milind Deora, with Nandgaonkar on the third spot. AAP’s candidature for Meera Sanyal from this constituency grabbed headlines. She, however, finished fourth. Sawant retained his position in 2019.
Prominent MPs: Sadashiv Kanoji Patil, George Fernandes, Murli Deora, Jaywantiben Mehta
MUMBAI SOUTH CENTRAL
The constituency covers Anushakti Nagar, Chembur, Dharavi, Sion Koliwada, Wadala and Mahim.
Demographics: Hindus in majority, followed by Muslims, SC and ST population. Maharashtrians are in majority, followed by Muslims, North Indians, South Indians and Gujaratis.
Sitting MP : Rahul Shewale (BJP)
: Rahul Shewale (BJP) Candidates Announced: Anil Desai (Sena UBT), Rahul Shewale (Shinde Sena)
The 2019 Fight: BJP’s Shewale defeated Eknath Gaikwad in this constituency in the 2019 elections. The voter turnout was 53%.
The past five elections & 2024: In 1999, Sena’s Mohan Rawale defeated Samajwadi Party’s Majid Memon. In 2004, Rawale beat NCP’s Sachin Ahir by 22,000 votes to retain the seat. Gangster-politican Arun Gawli contesting from the Akhil Bharatiya Sena came a close third. In 2009, Congress’s Eknath Gaikwad won against Sena’s Suresh Gambhir. MNS’s Shweta Parulkar came third. In 2014, Shewale won against Gaikwad. The situation remained similar in 2019.
Prominent MPs: Shripad Dange, Datta Samant
