BJP infighting queers pitch: Ex-MLA hopes for comeback, sitting MLA seeks re-election as Independent

In the 2019 polls too, Geeta Jain rebelled against her party and fought as an independent to emerge as the city’s first woman MLA. She defeated the BJP candidate and then sitting MLA Narendra Mehta as well as Congress’ Hussain, by a margin of 15,526 and 23,636 votes respectively. Upon her victory, she pledged support to the Mahayuti alliance.

Since re-joining BJP, she has subscribed to the party line and also openly pandered to the right-wing ideologues. In the aftermath of violence in Naya Nagar, a case was lodged against Jain for offensive speeches during the clashes.

It came as a complete surprise to many then, including Jain, that the BJP denied her the ticket, nudging a dismayed Jain to now bat as an independent under the symbol of ‘batsman’. “Until the last day, I was promised that the ticket belonged to me. Nobody was expecting this. Despite supporting the party wholeheartedly, now, I feel ditched,” Geeta Jain told Express, ahead of a rally through the Jesal park area in Bhayandar.

Instead, the BJP has fielded Narendra Mehta, who previously served as the MLA of Mira Bhayandar in 2014. Mehta is no stranger to controversy—having been embroiled in cases and allegations of harassment, rape and corruption in 2022.

Having already witnessed a face-off in 2019 polls, the animosity between Jain and Mehta is no secret. In this campaign too, they have been engaging in mudslinging through a war of words.

Earlier this week, Mehta also registered a complaint, following which a case was registered against Jain’s photographer for circulating offensive content against Mehta on social media. This prompted Jain to stage a sit-in protest outside the Navghar police station to protest the ‘illegal’ detention of her photographer.

Despite her popularity, party functionaries from BJP alluded that there was rising discontent against Jain over the slowed pace of infrastructure work in the twin city since 2019. Party insiders added that Jain’s fledging party allegiances in the past have also raised concerns.

For the record, the BJP has dominated the area since the formation of the Mira Bhayander Assembly constituency in 2009, with either the party or its affiliates winning both the Municipal Corporation and retaining the seat since 2014.

Amid this infighting to hold onto the party’s pocket borough, the MVA has announced Syed Muzaffar Hussain of the Congress as its candidate.

While he lost the assembly polls race in 2019, he has served terms as corporator, in the legislative council and the deputy mayor of the local corporation. Besides boasting of a clean slate with no criminal records, his candidature holds added import in the context of the recent communal disturbances in Naya Nagar.

It was Hussain’s father Syed Nazar Hussain who had envisaged Naya Nagar area as a planned residential zone for Muslims. The Mira Bhayandar corporation has a sizable Muslim population accounting for 16.28 percent of the total population, most of which reside in Naya Nagar. In light of the recent clash, political observers stated that Hussain could likely sway the minority votes.

Core issues in the area

Buoyed by the affordable real estate and proximity to Mumbai, the constituency has witnessed a rapid boom in population in recent years, putting a strain on the area’s existing resources. Water scarcity, traffic and inadequate infrastructure, including lack of last-mile connectivity, have emerged as key concerns ahead of polls.

For Jain, the agenda, upon coming to power, is to complete all the ongoing infrastructure projects. “We will start with work on the internal pipeline of Amrit-2, complete the concrete CC road work, build hospitals for which permissions were finalised two months ago, improve the quality of education and enhance the security of the area,” she said.

Meanwhile, Hussain has raised questions over the incomplete works of the incumbent government in his election campaigns. Hussain told Express, “For the past 10 years, this government has been in power in the Centre and in the corporation. Nothing stopped them and yet, no work has been executed in Mira Bhayandar in the past decade. My agenda is to improve the water supply, policing, bring more hospitals, create job opportunities, infrastructure and work with the fishermen in Uttan, besides other works.”

BJP candidate Mehta’s manifesto also promises to improve infrastructure and boost connectivity in the constituency. From bringing the coastal road upto Mira Bhayandar to introducing new trains from Mira Road to Churchgate and creating more job opportunities, Mehta is wooing voters with the appeal of transforming the constituency.