Kandivali East Assembly seat.
Counting of votes for the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections has begun today. The Kandivali East Assembly seat could face a tough contest between BJP’s Atul Bhatkhalkar and Congress’s Kalu Badheleya. This time voting was held in a single phase for all 288 seats in the state. There is a direct contest between the BJP and the Congress for the Kandivali East seat.
The BJP wants to maintain its previous control over this seat, while the Congress is trying to create a new history in this seat. Shiv Sena’s divisions and changing social equations will make the elections for this seat even more interesting. The results can decide the direction of politics not only in this region but also in Mumbai.
2014 and 2019: BJP dominance
In the 2014 elections, the BJP won a huge victory, leaving behind the Congress and Shiv Sena alliance. Bhatkhalkar gave the party an advantage by defeating the Congress candidate. In 2019, despite tensions in relations between Shiv Sena and BJP, Bhatkhalkar stood firm and defeated Congress’s Satish Patel by a wide margin. These victories established Kandivali East as a BJP stronghold.
Political history and regional importance.
The Kandivali East seat was formed after delimitation in 2008. In the first elections held in 2009, Shiv Sena’s Ram Kadam won, making it clear that Shiv Sena had influence in the area. Later, Ram Kadam joined the BJP and contested the elections on the BJP ticket in 2014. Atul Bhatkhalkar of the BJP won these elections, proving the party’s growing popularity in the area.
Social and electoral equation
The social structure of Kandivali East is diverse. There are a large number of Marathi, North Indian and Muslim voters here. Marathi voters are the Shiv Sena’s traditional base, while the BJP has also strengthened its presence among north Indian voters. Muslim voters have supported the Congress and the NCP.
