The Narwekar family achieved a clean sweep in Mumbai's A ward during the recent BMC elections. They won all three seats they contested on BJP tickets. This victory demonstrates strong political support in south Mumbai's prestigious areas.
Three Convincing Victories for the Family
Makrand Narwekar emerged victorious from ward number 226. This ward includes parts of Cuffe Parade. His cousin Gauravi Shivalkar Narwekar won her first election from ward number 227 in Colaba. Harshita Narwekar, Makrand's sister-in-law, secured ward number 225 in Fort.
Makrand Narwekar stood out as the richest candidate in the BMC elections. He declared assets worth Rs 124 crore. Harshita Narwekar won with a substantial margin. She defeated Sujata Sanap, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena candidate. Sanap belongs to the Mahayuti alliance.
Overcoming Seat Shuffles and Challenges
The family's wins came despite significant seat changes this election cycle. Previously, Makrand represented ward 227 in the last two elections. This time, Gauravi contested and won that seat. Harshita moved from ward 226, which she won last time, to ward 225 and succeeded again.
Rahul Narwekar, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker and Makrand's brother, commented on the results. He stated that BJP candidates in wards 225, 226, and 227 did not just scrape through. They registered convincing victories. Narwekar called this outcome a befitting reply to those who tried to set a fake narrative against his family.
"The people of Colaba stood by us," he said. "We will continue with the development of Colaba. Our rivals used every dirty trick in the book to defame us, but could not succeed. The people showed faith in the work done by PM Modi and CM Devendra Fadnavis. Now, Colaba too has a triple engine."
Controversy During Nomination Filing
A controversy erupted on the last day of nomination filing for the BMC polls. Former MP Haribhau Rathod leveled serious allegations against Rahul Narwekar. He accused the Speaker of intimidation and misuse of authority.
Rathod claimed that Narwekar warned him against filing nomination papers against BJP candidates. He alleged threats to withdraw his security cover. Political parties like AAP supported these allegations. They stated that Narwekar remained present at the nomination-filling venue until 5pm on December 30. They accused him of pressuring candidates to withdraw nominations to ensure uncontested wins for his relatives.
Broader Political Context
This victory occurs within a larger political landscape. The Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP dominates urban centers across Maharashtra. The Mahayuti alliance leads across various municipal corporations as vote counting continues.
In related election news, the Pawar family failed to deliver expected results in Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune. The BJP took a major lead in those areas. Pune's PMC election counting also began after a nine-year gap, with high stakes involved.
The Narwekar family's sweep in Mumbai's A ward represents a significant political achievement. It highlights their strong local support despite controversies and seat changes. The results reinforce BJP's urban dominance in Maharashtra's political arena.
