BMC polls: Parties scramble to make a Konkan connection
Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam
Congress, BJP try to drum up support in an influential community that has traditionally voted for Shiv Sena
The Congress and the BJP are trying hard to win over city voters with roots in the Konkan ahead of the February 21 contest to gain control of Asia's richest municipal body. People from the region who have been living in Mumbai for decades form a significant part of the electorate and are expected to influence the outcome in around 60 of the total 227 constituencies in theBMC polls . They have traditionally supported the Shiv Sena, but the Congress' hopes have been lifted by its victories in recent local body elections in the Konkan, especially Sindhudurg.
Congress MLA Nitesh Rane organised a meeting with Konkani-speaking Mumbaikars on Sunday. A similar gathering was earlier held by city Congress chiefSanjay Nirupam and senior leader Narayan Rane in Vile Parle.
"There is always a Konkan connection in Mumbai politics. What happens in the Konkan has repercussions here and vice versa,“ Nitesh said. “We are urging voters from the community to vote for development, not just go by emotions. The Shiv Sena-BJP [combine] has failed to do anything for them in so many years. I am sure the community will back us this time."
The BJP, too, is trying to drum up support in the community, which has varying levels of presence in 100 constituencies, and has put senior leaders such as Vinod Tawde and Ashish Shelar on the job. The `Mango festival', organised by Tawde's Konkan Vikas Pratisthan, is one of the party's main events for the community. The BJP has also organised a series of meetings with members of the target electorate.
The Konkani community has always been political influential and was among the key factors that impacted the 2012 municipal elections. Thirty current corporators in the BMC and most of the senior Sena leaders hail from the state's coastal belt.
The region was once a socialist stronghold, but it later moved closer to the Sena followingBal Thackeray 's rising popularity there.
Political analysts said parties had realised that they cannot afford to underestimate the importance of any section of the electorate in the municipal polls, and were trying to reconnect with Maratha-OBC migrant voters from the region.
Nitesh, a legislator from the Kankavli vidhansabha constituency in Sindhudurg district, said he would soon conduct street meetings in Konkani pockets across the city. "We will reach out to the community through conventions and streetside gatherings. We did well in the local body polls inSindhudurgh and hope to repeat our success here," he said.
But political analysts believe most Konkani-speaking voters would continue to back the Sena because of their emotional connection with Bal Thackeray. "All parties are wooing Konkani voters. But they are likely to stick to the Sena.Some sections of the community may drift away, but a large chunk will remain with the Sena," said senior journalist Ramesh Sawant of Ratnagiri Times, a popular daily in the coastal region.
"People may have voted for other parties in the Konkan but here in Mumbai, they prefer Sena because of their bond with Balasaheb and his party."
But the BJP and the Congress, Sawant added, may make inroads in some pockets.
The Shiv Sena, meanwhile, is confident of retaining its hold. Senior functionaries pointed out that the party's main trade unions in the city had a large number of Konkani members.
"There is no way the community will vote for the Congress or the BJP. Shiv Sena has always fought for the rights of the Marathi manoos," said Sena legislator Anil Parab. "Other parties can organize melavas, but it won't help. People from the Konkan know what Balasaheb has done for them."
The Congress and the BJP are trying hard to win over city voters with roots in the Konkan ahead of the February 21 contest to gain control of Asia's richest municipal body. People from the region who have been living in Mumbai for decades form a significant part of the electorate and are expected to influence the outcome in around 60 of the total 227 constituencies in the
Congress MLA Nitesh Rane organised a meeting with Konkani-speaking Mumbaikars on Sunday. A similar gathering was earlier held by city Congress chief
"There is always a Konkan connection in Mumbai politics. What happens in the Konkan has repercussions here and vice versa,“ Nitesh said. “We are urging voters from the community to vote for development, not just go by emotions. The Shiv Sena-BJP [combine] has failed to do anything for them in so many years. I am sure the community will back us this time."
The BJP, too, is trying to drum up support in the community, which has varying levels of presence in 100 constituencies, and has put senior leaders such as Vinod Tawde and Ashish Shelar on the job. The `Mango festival', organised by Tawde's Konkan Vikas Pratisthan, is one of the party's main events for the community. The BJP has also organised a series of meetings with members of the target electorate.
The Konkani community has always been political influential and was among the key factors that impacted the 2012 municipal elections. Thirty current corporators in the BMC and most of the senior Sena leaders hail from the state's coastal belt.
The region was once a socialist stronghold, but it later moved closer to the Sena following
Political analysts said parties had realised that they cannot afford to underestimate the importance of any section of the electorate in the municipal polls, and were trying to reconnect with Maratha-OBC migrant voters from the region.
Nitesh, a legislator from the Kankavli vidhansabha constituency in Sindhudurg district, said he would soon conduct street meetings in Konkani pockets across the city. "We will reach out to the community through conventions and streetside gatherings. We did well in the local body polls in
But political analysts believe most Konkani-speaking voters would continue to back the Sena because of their emotional connection with Bal Thackeray. "All parties are wooing Konkani voters. But they are likely to stick to the Sena.Some sections of the community may drift away, but a large chunk will remain with the Sena," said senior journalist Ramesh Sawant of Ratnagiri Times, a popular daily in the coastal region.
"People may have voted for other parties in the Konkan but here in Mumbai, they prefer Sena because of their bond with Balasaheb and his party."
But the BJP and the Congress, Sawant added, may make inroads in some pockets.
The Shiv Sena, meanwhile, is confident of retaining its hold. Senior functionaries pointed out that the party's main trade unions in the city had a large number of Konkani members.
"There is no way the community will vote for the Congress or the BJP. Shiv Sena has always fought for the rights of the Marathi manoos," said Sena legislator Anil Parab. "Other parties can organize melavas, but it won't help. People from the Konkan know what Balasaheb has done for them."
