Navi Mumbai’s Airoli, Belapur, Panvel, and Uran Constituencies Heat Up Ahead of Elections

Navi Mumbai, 5th October 2024: The four constituencies of Navi Mumbai are currently in a suspenseful race, featuring several rebel candidates. The areas of Airoli, Belapur, Panvel, and Uran are located in the rapidly developing districts of Thane and Raigad in Maharashtra.

Significant infrastructure projects, such as the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL), also known as Atal Setu, have enhanced connectivity between the island city of Mumbai and Nhava Sheva.

Navi Mumbai is experiencing a surge of development, with the Navi Mumbai International Airport set to become operational in the coming months. The Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA) is anticipated to further stimulate growth in the Raigad district, contributing to the broader Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and the establishment of a third mega city after Mumbai itself, alongside the proposed Konkan Coastal Road.

However, the region has faced political instability. The Naik family is particularly prominent in Navi Mumbai’s politics. Veteran BJP leader Ganesh Naik, a five-time MLA, is campaigning for a sixth term in Airoli but must contend with his long-time rival Vijay Chougule from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, as well as M K Madhavi from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT).

Ganesh Naik’s son, Sandeep Naik, a two-time MLA from Airoli, switched allegiance to the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) after being denied a ticket by the BJP and is now contesting from Belapur. He faces political challenges from his family’s rival Manda Mhatre, the sitting BJP MLA, and former bureaucrat turned politician Vijay Nahata, a Shiv Sena rebel.

Political analyst B N Kumar, an independent observer based in Navi Mumbai, remarked, “Without a clear political wave, it seems the rebels are significantly influencing the assembly election landscape in Maharashtra.” He noted that environmental concerns are paramount in Navi Mumbai, often referred to as the flamingo city. “Elected officials appear largely indifferent to the widespread destruction occurring under the guise of infrastructure development, neglecting the essential needs of the local populace,” Kumar added, highlighting his role as the Director of NatConnect Foundation.

In Uran, Mahesh Baldi of the BJP from the Maha Yuti coalition faces off against two candidates from the MVA: Manohar Bhoir from Shiv Sena (UBT) and Pritam Mhatre of the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP). In Panvel, BJP’s Prashant Thakur is the Maha Yuti candidate, competing against Leena Garad of Shiv Sena (UBT) and Balaram Patil from PWP.