In Mumbai's Malad West constituency, a tight election battle is brewing between three-time Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh and BJP candidate Vinod Shelar. While Shaikh is banking on his track record. MUMBAI: Traditionally a Congress stronghold , incumbent MLA and former state cabinet minister Aslam Shaikh has been elected from the Malad West constituency three times consecutively.
However, this year, BJP is attempting to gain ground, having promptly announced former corporator Vinod Shelar as its candidate on its first nomination list. Shaikh claimed that BJP has never been able to find a strong local candidate against him and has, time and again, brought in outsiders. This was the case in the 2019 assembly election, when it nominated former Kandivli East MLA Ramesh Singh Thakur, who lost the seat.
"I do not see Shelar as a competitor and am sure that I will once again represent this constituency," said Shaikh, who had just prior to the voting date being announced claimed credit for inaugurating the Mith Chowky flyover, calling it his brainchild. Even when Mumbai North MP Piyush Goyal arrived for the inauguration, Shaikh's party workers raised flags and slogans and claimed that the project had been made possible because of the MLA. Locals, however, said that Shaikh, who had won the last election by 10,388 votes, is treading cautiously this time, recognising that the influx of new voters could shift the balance.
Shaikh is confident that these voters, too, will swing in his favour. S.
