The fight is being portrayed by the two sides as a competition between a skilled politician strategist (Anil Desai) and a mass leader working on the ground (Rahu Shewale).
Incidentally, both Shewale and Desai, who were involved in the legal battle to retain Shiv Sena's name and symbol, have been approaching voters by making a strong claim of being the real Shiv Sena, carrying forward the ideas of party founder Balasaheb Thackeray .
Shewale, who was elected as the Shiv Sena (United) candidate in the 2014 and 2019 elections riding the PM Modi wave, is quite confident of achieving the hat-trick by seeking votes on Modi's guarantee and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's pro-development issue. Are optimistic.
Despite divisions in the party, Shewale is relying on the Shiv Sena's branch level network, besides the active participation of BJP's election machinery and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers.
Desai, who is contesting the Lok Sabha elections for the first time, is hopeful of a big victory against the anti-incumbency wave of the Modi government and also against Shewale.He is also counting on sympathy among voters for Uddhav Thackeray and the issue of saving democracy and the Constitution.
For him, Shiv Sainiks at the branch level along with workers of Congress, NCP, Communists and representatives of many NGOs have been the major source of strength.
There are 14 candidates in the fray. A total of 9,51,738 voters including 5,10,168 men and 4,41,389 women will cast their votes on May 20.
Interestingly, Marathi and Muslim voters, who constitute 57.42 per cent and 19.7 per cent respectively, will play a decisive role.
Besides, there are 8.6 percent SC, 5.49 percent North Indian, 1.53 percent Gujarati, 1.1 percent Christian and 6.16 percent others.Both Shewal and Desai are trying to get maximum support from Marathi Manoos apart from Muslims and others.
Shiv Sena had represented the constituency for a record 20 years from 1989 to 2009, but was later recaptured by Congress in the 2009 elections. However, in the last two elections, Shiv Sena (United) won the seats.
The constituency consists of six assembly constituencies including Anushakti Naga (NCP), Chembur (Shiv Sena UBT), Dharavi (Congress), Sion Koliwada (BJP), Wadal (BJP) and Mahim (Shiv Sena).
Dharavi is represented by Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad, who is contesting from the neighboring Mumbai North Central seat, but her entire election network is strongly working for Desai.Malik is not in circulation due to a court order, but the verdict of his supporters and the voters of his constituency, which has a large Muslim population, will play a key role in deciding Shewale and Desai's chances of victory.
The redevelopment of Dharavi, Asia's largest slum, is a hot issue which Shewale and Desai have raised aggressively during the election campaign.
Shewale claims that this project will prove to be a game changer for the residents of Dharao as it will not only provide them good livable houses but will also develop the area more than the existing Bandra Kurla Complex.
Desai, on the other hand, has expressed his party's support for the Dharau redevelopment, but continues to question the way it was allocated while giving several concessions to the developer. He is making a strong case for the implementation of redevelopment in a transparent manner.Besides this, deteriorating conditions of slums and transit camps, deteriorating infrastructure and delay in implementation of several redevelopment projects are some of the other issues prevalent in the constituency.
Incidentally, both Shewale and Desai, who were involved in the legal battle to retain Shiv Sena's name and symbol, have been approaching voters by making a strong claim of being the real Shiv Sena, carrying forward the ideas of party founder Balasaheb Thackeray .
Shewale, who was elected as the Shiv Sena (United) candidate in the 2014 and 2019 elections riding the PM Modi wave, is quite confident of achieving the hat-trick by seeking votes on Modi's guarantee and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's pro-development issue. Are optimistic.
Despite divisions in the party, Shewale is relying on the Shiv Sena's branch level network, besides the active participation of BJP's election machinery and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers.
Desai, who is contesting the Lok Sabha elections for the first time, is hopeful of a big victory against the anti-incumbency wave of the Modi government and also against Shewale.He is also counting on sympathy among voters for Uddhav Thackeray and the issue of saving democracy and the Constitution.
For him, Shiv Sainiks at the branch level along with workers of Congress, NCP, Communists and representatives of many NGOs have been the major source of strength.
There are 14 candidates in the fray. A total of 9,51,738 voters including 5,10,168 men and 4,41,389 women will cast their votes on May 20.
Interestingly, Marathi and Muslim voters, who constitute 57.42 per cent and 19.7 per cent respectively, will play a decisive role.
Besides, there are 8.6 percent SC, 5.49 percent North Indian, 1.53 percent Gujarati, 1.1 percent Christian and 6.16 percent others.Both Shewal and Desai are trying to get maximum support from Marathi Manoos apart from Muslims and others.
Shiv Sena had represented the constituency for a record 20 years from 1989 to 2009, but was later recaptured by Congress in the 2009 elections. However, in the last two elections, Shiv Sena (United) won the seats.
The constituency consists of six assembly constituencies including Anushakti Naga (NCP), Chembur (Shiv Sena UBT), Dharavi (Congress), Sion Koliwada (BJP), Wadal (BJP) and Mahim (Shiv Sena).
Dharavi is represented by Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad, who is contesting from the neighboring Mumbai North Central seat, but her entire election network is strongly working for Desai.Malik is not in circulation due to a court order, but the verdict of his supporters and the voters of his constituency, which has a large Muslim population, will play a key role in deciding Shewale and Desai's chances of victory.
The redevelopment of Dharavi, Asia's largest slum, is a hot issue which Shewale and Desai have raised aggressively during the election campaign.
Shewale claims that this project will prove to be a game changer for the residents of Dharao as it will not only provide them good livable houses but will also develop the area more than the existing Bandra Kurla Complex.
Desai, on the other hand, has expressed his party's support for the Dharau redevelopment, but continues to question the way it was allocated while giving several concessions to the developer. He is making a strong case for the implementation of redevelopment in a transparent manner.Besides this, deteriorating conditions of slums and transit camps, deteriorating infrastructure and delay in implementation of several redevelopment projects are some of the other issues prevalent in the constituency.
