Final Campaign Frenzy Grips Mumbai Ahead of BMC Polls
With the clock ticking down to the end of public campaigning, candidates across Mumbai made a final push on Tuesday. They turned to bike rallies, door-to-door visits, and last-minute appeals to reach undecided voters. Campaigning for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections drew to a close in the evening, marking the start of the mandatory silence period.
BJP Highlights Redevelopment as Key Achievement
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis led the BJP's campaign charge. He spent the final hour at the BDD chawls in Worli. Fadnavis interacted with residents who have benefited from one of the state government's flagship redevelopment projects. Sitting inside one of the newly built flats, he spoke to long-time chawl residents. They thanked him for what they described as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This visit underscored the BJP's attempt to highlight redevelopment as a key achievement ahead of polling.
Union Minister Muralidhar Mohol, minister Chandrakant Patil, and MLA Sidharth Shirole joined BJP candidates at an election rally in Gokhale Nagar. This event took place during the last day of campaigning ahead of the PMC elections.
Shiv Sena's Saffron Surge on Two Wheels
Shiv Sena candidate Vandana Gawli wrapped up her campaign with a bike rally through Currey Road, Prabhadevi, and adjoining areas. Party workers said the rally was planned to cover the entire constituency in the final hours. Gawli is the sister-in-law of Arun Gawli.
"After completing our regular campaign, we decided to tour the whole constituency one last time. The bike rally started at noon and went on till 5 pm," said Omkar Golavankar from Gawli's team. A long line of two-wheelers, with party workers wearing saffron scarves, moved through the streets. Gawli waved to residents from a distance.
Campaign speeches focused on development for the Marathi manoos. They also highlighted Gawli's work as a former corporator and her association with Arun Gawli, despite her split from his Akhil Bharatiya Sena.
"This election will show who the real Shiv Sena is. We have the bow and arrow symbol," said party worker Bhavesh Bhatia.
Shiv Sena (UBT) Counters with Mashaal Symbol Rally
Not far away in Currey Road, the Shiv Sena (UBT) staged a similar bike rally. Former mayor Kishori Pednekar led this rally. Passing high-rises that are replacing chawls and slums, campaigners urged voters to support the mashaal symbol.
Pednekar began her day by completing door-to-door campaigning in Dhobi Ghat. She then moved from shaka to shaka before eventually joining the rally. Party workers said her long association with the area and her tenure as mayor worked in her favour.
"She has worked here for decades, both before and during her time as mayor, including during the Covid period. Voters who believe in Balasaheb Thackeray will stand with the real Shiv Sena," said a party worker accompanying her.
Emotional Appeals and Family Politics in Dahisar
In Dahisar, BJP candidate Tejaswi Ghosalkar opted for a public rally across the constituency. In a notable moment, she was joined by her two children, aged five and 11, on the campaign chariot. This gesture was seen as an emotional appeal in an area where the Ghosalkar family's political influence has been closely watched.
Tejaswi switched from Shiv Sena (UBT) to the BJP. She is the daughter-in-law of former MLA Vinod Ghosalkar and was earlier a Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator. Her husband, Abhishek Ghosalkar, a former corporator, was killed in February 2024 in a shooting that shocked the city.
Quiet Outreach and Last-Minute Efforts
Other candidates preferred a quieter approach on the final day. BJP's Harshita Narwekar spent the last few hours on door-to-door outreach in parts of Ward 225 that she had not been able to visit earlier. Accompanied by party workers keeping a close watch on the time, Narwekar visited residential and commercial buildings near Manish Market.
She distributed pamphlets and reminded voters of her symbol and EVM number. "I have tried to reach people through door-to-door campaigns, meetings, and sabhas. On the last day, the effort is to meet those we could not reach earlier," Narwekar told The Indian Express.
The intense last-minute campaigning across Mumbai showcased the high stakes in the BMC elections. Candidates left no stone unturned to connect with voters before the silence period began. The political atmosphere remained charged as parties made their final appeals for support.
