Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jan 9: Long-stalled Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) projects, which have forced residents to spend decades in transit camps, have emerged as the key electoral issue in Mumbai’s Ward 202, covering Sewri, Bhoiwada and parts of Parel.
The ward has nearly 50,000 voters, with over 78 per cent Marathi-speaking residents, according to party surveys. Traditionally a stronghold of the undivided Shiv Sena, the ward has witnessed a shift in the political landscape amid growing resentment against local political leadership, accused of colluding with builders and stalling redevelopment projects.
The simmering discontent has triggered a split within the Shiv Sena (UBT), with long-time shakha pramukh Vijay Indulkar contesting as an independent candidate after being denied a party ticket. He is pitted against Shraddha Jadhav, a six-time corporator and former mayor.
Clarifying his stand, Indulkar said his fight was not against the party but against the candidate chosen for the ward. “If I win, I will return to the Sena (UBT) to prove that grassroots workers with decades of service deserve an opportunity,” he said.
Claiming widespread support, Indulkar said around 120 party office-bearers had resigned in his favour and that nearly 95 per cent of Shiv Sainiks were backing him. “My campaign is being carried out by party workers, while my opponent has to hire workers from the MNS,” he alleged, adding that party surveys had shown negative feedback against Jadhav.
Addressing residents at Chalisma Tower, an SRA building in Parel village, Indulkar reiterated that mishandling of SRA projects was the ward’s biggest issue. “People have neither received homes nor rent after vacating their houses. Redeveloped buildings have not received corpus funds for the last 10 years. A horizontal slum has been converted into a vertical one,” he alleged. He also pointed to the dilapidated condition of chawls, non-cessed and pagdi buildings, and said residents of Bhoiwada village had been stuck in transit camps for nearly 30 years.
Shraddha Jadhav dismissed the allegations, asserting her long-standing connect with voters. “I campaign every day. Every house knows me and is satisfied with my work. I have been elected four times from this ward. Would people repeatedly elect me if I hadn’t worked here?” she asked.
Acknowledging civic challenges, Jadhav said several slum pockets including Vageshwari, Baradevi, Ganesh Nagar and Sewri Market were demanding redevelopment. She also admitted to water supply issues, stating that additional pipeline connections were required.
Meanwhile, the BJP’s youngest candidate, 29-year-old Parth Bavkar, is attempting to connect with Gen-Z voters by focusing on redevelopment and rehousing. Campaigning in Bhoiwada gaon, Bavkar said, “Fifth-generation residents are still living in transit camps. Their suffering brings tears to the eyes.”
Highlighting his background, Bavkar said he had been working in the ward since the age of 22. “At 24, I became the youngest BJP shakha pramukh. I worked at the grassroots level, connected with young voters through social media, and helped residents during the pandemic,” he said.
He too targeted Jadhav’s performance, saying, “If a six-time corporator had worked sincerely, there would not have been a rebellion within her own party.”
Reflecting the frustration of residents is Kamlesh Bansode, a fourth-generation resident of Bhoiwada Gaon. “It has been over 17 years and we are still waiting for our rightful homes. Every election brings promises, but no progress. Political parties are clearly hand in glove with the builder lobby,” he alleged.
With redevelopment at the heart of voter anger, Ward 202 is witnessing one of its most keenly contested civic battles in years, with stalled SRA projects likely to determine the outcome.