Super six surprise

Amid the euphoria of the Delhi-Mumbai twin wins,the Congress-NCP state government had a lesson to learn on the urban voters’ mood: the MNS candidates polled 8.45 lakh votes in the Mumbai region and the Marathi manoos issue is still alive. Here is how the MNS played foil to the saffron combine.

Its candidates cornered more votes than the winning margin of the Congress-NCP in most cases. In Mumbai South,Bala Nandgaonkar of the MNS finished second with sitting MP Mohan Rawle a poor third. Milind Deora’s winning margin was 1,26,293; Nandgaonkar polled 1,59,729 and Rawle 1,46,118.

The most telling blow was in Mumbai Northeast,where Kirit Somaiya — considered a sureshot win for the BJP — lost by 2,933 votes. With his 1.94 lakh votes,Shishir Shinde of the MNS proved decisive.

Raj Thackeray had formed the MNS three years ago,occupying the spotlight through its sustained agitation against the “outsiders” in Mumbai. While the MNS workers battled migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar,often violently,the party’s candidates clearly set the stage for a victory for Congress candidates,including Uttar Bharatiyas like Sanjay Nirupam.

In Mumbai North,Nirupam sprung a surprise against BJP veteran Ram Naik,winning by a slender margin of 5,779 votes. For Naik,who suffered his second consecutive loss,there was reason to be disappointed: While Nirupam polled 2,55,157 votes,MNS candidate and party spokesperson Shirish Parkar polled 1.47 lakh votes. “We failed to take the MNS seriously enough,” Naik said.

In Mumbai Northwest also,the 1.23 lakh votes polled by MNS candidate Shalini Thackeray led to the defeat of Sena veteran Gajanan Kirtikar who lost to Gurudas Kamat by 38,387 votes. “The Sena has been greatly affected by the MNS. In fact,it is because of it that we have lost seats in Mumbai. Raj Thackeray has let the Congress win seats,” Kirtikar said.

In North Central,where the BJP’s Mahesh Jethmalani lost to Priya Dutt by a margin 1,74,555 votes,MNS’s Shilpa Sarpotdar polled more than 1.31 lakh votes,just 12,000 votes less than Jethmalani. “We didn’t set out with the intention to cut into Sena votes; we put up a genuine fight. Except for Vile Parle and Bandra West Assembly constituencies,where we came third,we came second in four Assembly segments,” Shilpa said.

In South Central,Shweta Parulkar of the MNS polled 1,08,341 votes while Eknath Gaikwad defeated Suresh Gambhir of the Sena by 75,706 votes. In Thane also,where NCP candidate Sanjeev Naik won by a margin 49,000 votes,MNS candidate Rajan Raje logged 1.34 lakh votes. In Kalyan and Bhiwandi too,the MNS candidates clocked in more than one lakh votes each.

That the MNS was celebrating the defeat of the Shiv Sena was obvious too. At Vikhroli,when Sanjay Dina Patil of the NCP had taken a healthy lead,the camaraderie between a small group of NCP and MNS supporters outside the counting centre was clear. “Bhau (Sanjay Patil) tumchya mule jinkle (Patil won because of you),” said an NCP activist to an MNS karyakarta. Before leaving,the MNS supporter suggested Patil should visit Rajgad,Raj Thackeray’s headquarters. “Bakshis nakki milel (A prize is assured).”

The Bahujan Samaj Party failed to live up to its pre-poll hype in Mumbai.

The winners

Priya Dutt
Mumbai North Central
beat Mahesh Jethmalani (BJP) by 1,74,555 votes
“Development is the key issue. People expect me is to ensure the most basic of needs: good roads,education,health care,security for women and children. Of the two new assembly segments,Chandivli is well cared for but Kurla’s slum development needs a lot of work “

Milind Deora
Mumbai South
beat Bala Nandgaonkar (MNS) by 1,26,293 votes
“I will press for more central funds for infrastructure projects and commissioning of the Trans-Harbour (Nhava Sheva) Sea-Link. I will stay committed to serving people to the best of my abilities”

Sanjay Nirupam
Mumbai North
beat Ram Naik (BJP) by 5,779 votes

Eknath Gaikwad
Mumbai South Central
beat Suresh Gambhir (Shiv Sena) by 75,706 votes
“We have to keep up the good work. The Dharavi Redevelopment Project and other slum rehabilitation projects along similar lines are on my priority list”

Sanjay Patil
Mumbai Northeast
beat Kirit Somaiya (BJP) by 2,933 votes