Mumbai's P North ward, a vast administrative zone stretching from Goregaon to Madh Islands, presents a stark urban paradox. This Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) jurisdiction, the city's largest by area, is a landscape where towering high-rises stand shoulder-to-shoulder with dense slum clusters. As the metropolis gears up for crucial civic elections, this ward, encompassing the entire Malad region, finds itself at a critical juncture, grappling with deep-rooted civic challenges.
A Constituency of Contrasts and Key Electoral Battleground
Geographically, P North ward houses a substantial electorate of 8.22 lakh voters, representing nearly eight per cent of Mumbai's total voting population. The demographic fabric here is diverse, with a significant Muslim populace constituting 27.7 per cent, followed by a five per cent Christian community. The area's proximity to coastal stretches also supports substantial populations of indigenous communities, including the Kolis, and residents of East Indian Gaothans, Puravs, and Pathares.
However, this vast ward is currently plagued by persistent issues that directly impact the quality of life for its residents. Illegal encroachment and land grabbing have severely constrained the scope for essential infrastructure expansion. Compounding this is a worrying drug menace, particularly among minors, which has emerged as a major social concern for local communities and authorities alike.
Political Dynamics and Key Contenders in the Fray
The electoral arena in P North is intensely competitive, comprising 18 corporator constituencies (ward numbers 32 to 49) – the highest for any single ward in Mumbai. In the upcoming BMC polls, a staggering 139 candidates from various political parties, including the BJP, Shiv Sena, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), are set to contest.
One of the most watched electoral debuts is that of Haider, son of Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh, who is contesting from ward number 34. Malad is considered a Congress bastion at the assembly level, with the party holding the legislative seat for over two decades. Nine of the 18 corporator wards fall within Aslam Shaikh's legislative boundaries. Haider has outlined a platform focused on women's safety, comprehensive CCTV coverage, universal street lighting, and combating environmental pollution.
Adding to the family's political involvement, Aslam Shaikh's sister, Qamar Jahan Siddique, is contesting from the neighbouring ward number 33. From the BJP, former BMC group leader Vinod Mishra is contesting from ward number 43 in Malad East. He has emphasized the urgent need for administrative bifurcation of the unwieldy ward to improve civic service delivery.
Administrative Challenges and Communal Tensions
A core administrative issue is the ward's enormous size, covering an east-west distance of 16 kilometers with only one central office. In 2023, the BMC mooted a proposal to bifurcate it into P North and P East wards. While a temporary office has been set up in Malad East, most administrative functions remain centralised, forcing residents from the eastern parts to cross railway tracks for basic civic work.
The State Election Commission data reveals a substantial jump in voter registrations in three of the 18 wards since the last civic polls in 2017. Ward number 48 in Malvani recorded the highest increase at 67.6 per cent, with voters rising from 29,697 to 49,775. Ward number 33 in Madh saw a 54.1 per cent rise.
This surge has become a political flashpoint, with areas like Malad and Malvani witnessing rising communal tensions over allegations of "infiltration" by Rohingyas and Bangladeshi nationals. Cabinet Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha and MLA Aslam Shaikh have publicly sparred over the issue. Lodha has alleged a systemic approach to enrolling illegal immigrants in voter lists, while Congress corporator Salma Salim Amlelkar from ward 48 attributes the increase to sustained voter enrollment drives that registered previously unenrolled long-term residents.
As Mumbai's P North ward heads to the polls, the contest is not just about political victories but also about addressing its complex urban duality and delivering on promises of better governance, infrastructure, and social security for all its residents.
