Mumbai South candidates: Sitting MP, former MP, cardiologist and 10 more face off in ‘swing vote’ constituency

Mumbai South is linguistically and socially diverse. As a high profile battle looms between sitting Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant and the INC's Milind Deora, here is a detailed report on the candidates and voter concerns in the constituency.

Mumbai South constituency is relatively new, having been constituted from a Presidential notification on delimitation on February 2008. This Lok Sabha constituency has six Vidhan Sabha legislative assembly segments, comprising Worli, Shivadi, Byculla, Malabar Hill, Mumbadevi and Colaba.

Mumbai South before delimitation was dominated by Gujaratis, Marwaris and some minority vote pockets. However, after delimitation, it is almost seen to be a microcosm of the city’s diversity. It is called ‘mini Mumbai’, as it reflects the diversity of the main city. Since 1996, Mumbai South has been firmly turning the tide in favour of the party that would rule the city and the state during that election. Malabar Hill, the most affluent area, is also called the ‘swing’ vote Assembly segment, and is seen to be the most affluent seat in the whole of India.

This time, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is not contesting elections, although Raj Thackeray has been holding rallies across the state, canvassing against the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the 2014 elections, the Modi wave washed over the city, but this time, it is not so clear.

The constituency is a hotbed of linguistic as well as religious groups, and the political parties appear to be wooing specific sections to garner votes. Marathi-speaking groups in Worli and Sewree seem to be backing the BJP-Siv Sena combine, while Marwaris and Muslims appear to be inclined towards the Congress-NCP contestants. On the other hand, Sawant is relying on support from BJP legislators like Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Raj Purohit, in order to garner support from the Gujarati and Marwari communities. A huge chunk of Jain voters are also part of the support base here.

[flexiblemap src=”http://data.opencity.in/Data/Maharashatra-Parliament-Constituency-Mumbai-South-Map-V-1.kml” width=”100%” height=”400px” ]

Note – Map for representation purpose | Source – http://datameet.org

2014 Lok Sabha elections

Incumbent MP: Arvind Ganpat Sawant

Name of candidate Party Votes secured Vote share (over total votes polled)
Arvind Sawant SHS 374609 48.03
Deora Milind Murli INC 245850 31.5
Bala Nandgaonkar MNS 84773 10.8
NOTA 9573 1.22

Source: ECI

Know your candidates

Arvind Ganpat Sawant, Shiv Sena

Arvind Sawant, the sitting MP of Mumbai South, is Shiv Sena’s candidate in the 2019 elections. He was elected from this constituency in the last Lok Sabha elections of 2014. This Member of Parliament is a strong Trade Union Leader.

Arvind Ganpat Sawant

  • Age: 67 years
  • Education: Junior, B.Sc from Bhavan’s College
  • Career: Social worker, trade unionist
  • Address: 3/87, Mithibai Building, Acharya Donde Marg, Sewree, Mumbai – 400 015
  • Telephone: 9969004488
  • Email: arvindsawantg@gmail.com
  • Website: http://arvindsawant.com/m/
  • https://www.facebook.com/ArvindGSawant/
  • https://twitter.com/AGSawant
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=arvind+sawant
  • Instagram: AGSawant
  • Pending criminal cases: One. Under IPC 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 332, 341, 353, 427; Section 37(3), 135 of Maharashtra Police Act, section 3(1) of Prevention of Defacement of Government Property.

Assets and Liabilities

Year Assets Liabilities
2019 Rs 2,71,81,577

(Movable assets: 2,40,81,577

Immovable assets: 31,00,000)

Nil
2014 Rs 1,30,67,446

(Movable assets: 1,05,17,446

Immovable assets: 25,50,000)

Nil

Sources: MyNeta.info, ECI

Click here for a complete profile of the candidate — his performance in Parliament, MPLAD projects and more news on him.

Milind Deora, INC

Milind Deora (in the centre) at the campaign trial. Credits: Facebook

The INC’s candidate is a two-time winner from Mumbai South – in 2004 as well as 2009. When he joined he was 27, the youngest candidate in 2004. He is now in a close chase and seems to be trying hard to wrest his seat back from Shiv Sena’s Arvind Sawant, who rode on the Modi wave in 2014.

  • Age: 43 years
  • Education: BBA from Sydenham College (Mumbai), B.A in Business & Political Science from Boston University
  • Career: Politician, Businessman
  • Address: 2W, Mun, H.No.44, Ramalayam Building, Dr.Gopalrao Deshmukh Marg (Peddar Road), Cumballa Hill, Near Telephone Exchange, Mumbai-400026
  • Telephone: 02222021525, 9820188111
  • email: mdeoraofficial@gmail.com
  • Website: http://www.milinddeora.in/meet-milind/
  • https://www.facebook.com/MilindDeora/
  • twitter.com/@milinddeora
  • Positions held: Member of Parliament (14th, 15th Lok Sabha), Minister of State Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (July 2011 – May 2014), Minister of State Ministry of Shipping (October 2012 – May 2014)
  • Pending criminal cases: None

Assets and liabilities in 2019

Movable 33,73,94,451 (self) + 31,97,56,713(spouse) + 1,31,258(dependent)
Immovable Rs 13,59,18,000
Liabilities Nil

Source:  ECI

Milind Deora has been an outspoken Congressman, who even in 2014 opposed the UPA’s ordinance that permitted an MP to continue in office even if he appealed against conviction. He has also supported ‘regulation’ of content on social media. He had led the debate on Right to Information (RTI) Bill in the Lower House in 2005. Before entering politics, he worked for an NGO that tried to ensure digital literacy for “fund-starved” government-aided schools. The Union Minister also introduced a policy with an aim to bring down telecom tower emissions and health risks.

Deora was recently in the news when he got endorsements from Mukesh Ambani, which was surprising, as the Congress has been continuously slamming his brother, Anil Ambani. Mukesh said he feels that Milind Deora understands the social, economic and cultural eco-system of south Mumbai and can connect very quickly and easily with the people. Kotak Mahindra Bank’s Uday Kotak also voiced his view in the same video along with Ambani, agreeing that Milind not only understands but also empathises with Mumbaikars.

Full list of candidates

Candidate’s Name Political Party Symbol
Arvind Ganpat Sawant, 67, Junior BSc, Social worker Shiv Sena Bow and arrow
Milind Deora, 43, BBA, BA, Businessman Indian National Congress Hand
Gautam Sureshkumar Mistrilal, 47, SSC, Businessman Bahujan Samaj Party Elephant
Dr Anil Kumar, 68, DM (Cardiologist), Doctor Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi Cup and saucer
Abbas F Chhatriwala, 43, SSCE, self-employed Jan Adhikar Party Bricks
Irfan Shaikh, 67, BA (Hindi Satar), Petition writer Ambedkarite Party of India Coat
Ramchandra N. Kachave, 50, BA (LLB) Lawyer Krantikari Jai Hind Sena Helicopter
Shehbaj Rathod, 48, VIIIth pass, Businessman Jai Maha Bharath Party Pen Nib With Seven Rays
Sahil Shah, 27, BLS, Advocate Bhartiya Manavadhikaar Federal Party Biscuit
Hamir Kalidas Vinjuda, 65, 10th passed, Retired Bahujan Republican Socialist Party Air Conditioner
Rajesh B. Dayal, 42, 12th passed. Independent Slate
Shankar Sonawane, 51, SSC passed, Taxi driver Independent Gas cylinder
Sai Shrivastav, 29, BMM, Ad fim Director, News editor Independent Diamond

Issues in South Mumbai

The constituency has a mix of Maharashtrian, non-Maharashtrian, Muslim, Christian, Jain and Marwari communities. It seems to be a microcosm of emerging Mumbai. But Mumbai South’s main problems involve the same issues as in the other constituencies of Mumbai. They include old and decrepit buildings, slum redevelopment, poor quality of water and pollution. There is a concern about jobs and business in south Mumbai. The main worry seems to be about overcoming unemployment.

A 2018 survey titled All India Survey on Governance Issues and Voting Behaviour by Association for Democratic Reforms found that residents of Mumbai South rank drinking water (50.22%), better roads (41.17%), and better employment opportunities (40.76%) as the top three voter priorities in the constituency.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Similar Story

Lack of transparency in Area Sabha functioning in Tamil Nadu: Exposing the gaps

RTI queries revealed that most urban local governments including Chennai Corporation had failed to conduct adequate Area Sabha meetings.

It has been over two years since the State government notified the rules under the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act Rules, 2023, which establish regulations for the functioning of Area Sabhas and Ward Sabhas throughout the state. However, no information is available or being maintained in the public domain by any of the Urban Local Governments (ULGs) or the Department of Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) to track the functioning of these Area Sabhas. We at Voice of People, have repeatedly appealed for transparency by petitioning the State government.  Read more: Area Sabhas and Ward Committees: Power to…

Similar Story

Workplace harassment: Women in the unorganised sector often get a raw deal

The LCC plays a vital role in preventing workplace harassment in the unorganised sector and can serve as a model for ensuring access to justice.

Until a year ago, Selvi*, a 38-year-old from Tirunelveli, worked as a salesperson in a small textile shop in Chennai. "One of the male supervisors, who is related to the shop owner, would verbally abuse the women staff and misbehave with them. The instances of such abusive behaviour kept increasing. One day, I spoke up and told him it wasn't fair for him to act that way. He became furious and started verbally abusing me. It escalated into an ugly confrontation, and I was thrown out of my job," says Selvi. As the sole breadwinner of her family, Selvi struggled…