January 10, 2026: Redevelopment has become the defining theme of the civic election discourse in Dharavi’s Ward 185, driven largely by the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) and its implications for local communities. The ward, with nearly 40,000 voters, is part of the larger Dharavi assembly segment covering wards 183 to 189 and around 2.35 lakh electors. Its population reflects Dharavi’s diversity, with sizeable South Indian, Marathi, North Indian, Muslim and Gujarati communities. While Congress has traditionally held sway here, the ward was last won by T M Jagdish of the undivided Shiv Sena, and the BJP is yet to secure a victory.
At the centre of the campaign is Kumbharwada, the 150-year-old potters’ colony, where residents are seeking either exemption from large-scale redevelopment or assured rehabilitation within the same neighbourhood. Across party lines, candidates have pledged to protect the colony and its traditional pottery-based economy. Veteran corporator Ravi Raja, a former leader of opposition in the BMC, has been reaching out directly to residents, particularly in Tamil-speaking areas, and has assured that Kumbharwada’s craft will be preserved. He said a delegation from the colony had flagged concerns and promised to earmark 12.5 acres within the DRP for in-situ rehabilitation. Raja also accused the Gaikwad family of stalling redevelopment between 1999 and 2014.
Despite these assurances, scepticism remains strong. Long-time resident Sheshova Shekhar, who has lived in a 150-sq-ft home in Rajiv Gandhi Nagar for seven decades, said the proposed redevelopment would restrict vertical expansion that families currently rely on. Many fear that one-room tenements in new buildings will be inadequate over time. Residents also point to a pattern of civic works, such as road and sanitation upgrades, appearing mainly during election cycles.
Tax-related legacy issues add to the unease. Kumbharwada residents, who earlier paid minimal vacant land tax, were later told these dues were waived following redevelopment announcements, creating confusion that candidates acknowledge must be resolved.
As Jagdish highlights past improvements in civic amenities, Congress and AAP are foregrounding livelihood protection, infrastructure upgrades and clearer rehabilitation plans. The contest in Ward 185 underscores how redevelopment, livelihoods and trust now shape civic politics in Dharavi.
