October 25, 2025: As redevelopment activity surges across Mumbai, political parties are facing a new challenge — their voters are on the move. With thousands of old buildings undergoing reconstruction, residents have been temporarily relocated, leaving parties scrambling to track and mobilize their core supporters ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, which are likely to be held early next year.
A senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said the party has identified at least four wards where election results could hinge on the turnout of displaced voters. “There is one such ward in North East Mumbai, and a few in North Mumbai and North Central Mumbai. We have identified the wards and will make concerted efforts to reach out to our voters,” the leader said.
Mumbai has 24 administrative wards and 227 councillor wards. Developers estimate that approximately 2,050 private buildings are currently undergoing redevelopment, spanning areas such as Bandra, Andheri, Colaba, and Chembur. As residents move into temporary accommodations, rising rental demand has forced some to relocate farther away, complicating campaign strategies.
A Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) leader said, “Right now, in Mumbai, the biggest issue from the point of elections is that a lot of buildings and societies have gone for redevelopment. This means voters could be voting out of the councillor ward boundaries temporarily and will also be getting dispersed, making targeted campaigning for large groups, communities, and societies difficult.” The leader added that even 60–80 votes could influence ward-level results.
Former corporator Vishakha Raut from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) noted that the issue isn’t new but has grown in scale. “When voters are scattered, we will need to put in more effort for coordination,” she said.
Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant echoed similar concerns, adding that large-scale redevelopment now demands “a unique approach to reach out to voters.”
Source: The Print
