With the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections scheduled for January 15, the political atmosphere in Mumbai's Dharavi is electric. The focus is sharply on Ward No. 185, a densely populated area that is poised for a massive transformation due to an approved redevelopment project, yet continues to struggle with fundamental civic issues.
A Triangular Contest in a Key Ward
The electoral battle in Ward 185, which includes areas like Rajiv Gandhi Nagar and the Transit Camp, has narrowed down to a three-way fight. The key contenders are Congress candidate Kamlesh Chitroda, the sitting corporator from Shiv Sena (UBT) T M Jagdish, and Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Ravi Raja. A total of 16 candidates are in the fray for this ward, which has an electorate of nearly 38,000 voters.
Campaigning is in full swing, with vehicles bearing candidate images from various parties, including AAP and BSP, constantly moving along the 90-feet road. The buzz was particularly palpable outside the BJP party office near Kamaraj High School recently, where party workers and supporters welcomed their candidate, Ravi Raja, with chants and saffron flags.
Basic Amenities Top Voter Concerns
Despite the grand promise of redevelopment, residents' immediate grievances revolve around a severe lack of basic amenities. During his campaign walk through the narrow lanes of the Transit Camp, Raja pointed at heaps of garbage, highlighting the incumbent's failures.
Voters echo these concerns passionately. Priya Sharma, a resident of the Dhobi Ghat area, outlined the daily struggles: "We have BMC taps, but no water. We are forced to buy private water. Drains are clogged and never cleaned. Diseases like dengue are common. Public toilets are shut at night, which is especially hard for pregnant women." Issues of insufficient water, uncleanliness, and poor sanitation dominate the discourse on the ground.
Ravi Raja: A Veteran with a New Ticket
Ravi Raja is a familiar face in Mumbai's civic politics, having first been elected as a corporator in 1992 and serving consecutive terms, including as the Leader of Opposition in the BMC from 2017 to 2022. However, the 2026 polls mark a significant shift for him. After a long stint with the Congress, he joined the BJP in 2024 due to party differences. Furthermore, while he previously contested from Sion East (Ward 176), he lost that turf due to OBC reservation. This election is his first on a BJP ticket, and from Dharavi's Ward 185.
Raja is confident of a strong victory. "The sitting corporator has been missing. I have 25 years of experience in the BMC and understand the system. People recognize me, and being close to my former Sion seat, I know the issues of Dharavi well," he stated.
Protecting Kumbharwada: A Core Promise
A major focus of Raja's campaign is the protection and integration of Kumbharwada, the historic potters' colony settled in Dharavi since 1875. "In the next ten years, you will see a different Dharavi. Protecting Kumbharwada will be a crucial focus area. I plan to carve out a significant space for these craftsmen and ensure they get redeveloped space in the same locality," Raja promised. This community holds considerable electoral influence, with the BJP estimating nearly 5,000 Kumbhar voters in the ward, alongside other significant groups like Tamils, Muslims, and Maharashtrians.
The BJP sees this election as an opportunity to make inroads into Dharavi, a seat that has eluded them in the past. With the redevelopment project looming large and basic civic issues unresolved, Ward 185 represents a microcosm of Mumbai's larger urban challenges, making it one of the most watched contests in the upcoming BMC polls.
