Mumbai's vast L Ward, an administrative division where no single party dominated in the previous Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) house, has once again transformed into a fierce political battleground. The stage is set for high-profile contests marked by dramatic defections, last-minute ticket changes, and open rebellion, primarily stemming from the tense seat-sharing arrangements between the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This political churn has paved the way for the electoral debut of relatives of sitting MLAs and a former minister, making the ward one of the most keenly watched in the civic polls.
Last-Minute Switches and Family Entries Define Key Wards
The drama unfolded starkly in Ward No. 157. Shiv Sena MLA Dilip Lande had indicated as early as November last year that either Dr. Ravindra Mhaske or his wife, Dr. Sarita Mhaske, would be the party's candidate. After the ward was reserved for open women, Sarita Mhaske, who lost the previous election as a Congress candidate by a narrow margin of just 573 votes, began preparing her nomination. However, in a sudden twist, the couple was informed at the last moment that the seat had been allocated to the BJP. Left with no option, they crossed over to the Shiv Sena (UBT), which promptly fielded Sarita Mhaske from the same ward.
"People wanted us to contest and even contributed from their own pockets. Even rickshaw drivers donated money," said Dr. Ravindra Mhaske. The BJP, meanwhile, has fielded Asha Tayde, the wife of former corporator Ishwar Tayde, whose political journey has seen him shift loyalties from the MNS to the undivided Shiv Sena, then to the Eknath Shinde-led Sena, and finally to the BJP earlier this year.
Similar last-minute changes rocked Ward No. 168. The BJP initially gave its AB form to local worker Aditya Panse, who filed his nomination. However, the party later made him withdraw after deciding to field Anuradha Pednekar, the first runner-up in the last civic elections and wife of Sena vibhag pramukh Mahesh Pednekar. She will now face the NCP (Ajit Pawar's party) candidate Saeda Khan, who represented the ward between 2017 and 2022.
Debutants and Multi-Cornered Fights
Ward No. 162 will witness the political debut of Amir Nasim Khan, son of former minister Arif Naseem Khan. He faces a significant challenge from his father's former associate and ex-corporator Wajid Qureshi, now fielded by the Shiv Sena, and S. Annamalai of the Shiv Sena (UBT). Political observers believe Amir Khan holds an edge, as his father secured a sizable lead from this ward in the last assembly elections. The contest is further complicated by three former BJP workers contesting as independents.
In Ward No. 163, Shaila Lande, wife of Chandivali MLA Dilip Lande, is contesting on a Shiv Sena ticket. She faces Congress candidate Sonu Jain, who belongs to an influential local business family. Adding another layer to this multi-cornered fight, Ritadevi Singh — the mother of Sonu Singh, a BJP Yuva Morcha office bearer — is contesting on an NCP ticket. Sonu Singh stated he sees no issue with this, as the NCP is part of the state government.
Another closely watched contest is in Ward No. 169, where Jay Kudalkar, son of Kurla MLA Mangesh Kudalkar, is making his electoral debut. He faces stiff competition from Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Pravina Morajkar, who represented the ward between 2017 and 2022. Kudalkar must also contend with rebellion within BJP ranks, as party office bearer Amit Shelar is contesting as an independent. Shelar explained, "Commitments to my candidature were overridden by pressure from the local MLA."
Chronic Civic Issues Overshadow Political Drama
Beyond the political maneuvering, L Ward — one of Mumbai's largest and most diverse civic divisions — continues to grapple with severe and persistent civic problems. Stretching from the Tansa Pipeline between Ghatkopar and Vikhroli to the Mithi River, and from Powai to Sion Creek, the area is characterised by vast slum clusters alongside high-rise townships.
RTI activist and long-time Kurla resident Anil Galgali highlighted the grim reality on the ground. "Chronic civic neglect has made daily life miserable," he said, pointing to a litany of issues including severe traffic congestion, rampant encroachments, poor water supply, garbage mismanagement, and recurring dengue outbreaks. He emphasized that delayed civic works, chaos around Kurla station, unfinished Mithi River projects, and mounting landslide risks demand urgent and permanent solutions from whichever political formation eventually wins these high-stakes seats.
The electoral battle in Ward No. 165 encapsulates the experienced versus experienced dynamic, with Congress fielding two-time corporator Ashraf Azmi and the NCP nominating Kaptan Malik, another two-term corporator who shifted wards after his earlier constituency was reserved for women. As candidates campaign hard, the residents of L Ward await not just a political verdict, but a concrete promise to address the deep-rooted civic crises that define their everyday lives.
