From stalled infrastructure works to burgeoning visitors woes, pushed by inhabitants and actual property increase, residents have been left grappling with a spate of city challenges within the Thane constituency. It’s no shock that the promise of enhancing congestion and infrastructure plans just like the lately introduced inside ring highway Metro challenge have weighed heavy on campaigns throughout the saffron bastion that’s bracing for a tricky triangular contest.
The battle in Thane has boiled right down to a three-way combat between Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidate — former two-time MP Rajan Vichare of Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS candidate Avinash Jadhav and sitting BJP MLA Sanjay Kelkar.
For Kelkar, who ended the Shiv Sena’s hegemonic management of Thane constituency in 2014, the problem just isn’t solely to win a historic third-term but additionally safe the Mahayuti’s success within the metropolis, which is CM Eknath Shinde’s bastion.
For Vichare, who tasted defeat within the Lok Sabha elections, the upcoming ballot is a battle of status to regain inroads to what was thought-about Sena’s unique fortress.
Additionally difficult the incumbent’s bid to retain energy is MNS’ Thane district president, Avinash Jadhav, whose victory might solidify his social gathering’s stakes within the state political panorama. Within the 2019 meeting elections, Jadhav, who regardless of being a relative greenhorn then, obtained over 70,000 votes, shedding to sitting MLA Kelkar by 20,000 votes.
Dwelling to over 3.78 lakh voters, whereas historically Thane’s older areas have been predominantly Maharashtrian, the latest years have witnessed important demographic shifts. Information additionally exhibits that of the overall votes, Muslims account for 8 per cent — with most residents in pockets like Rabodi.
With three Maharashtrian candidates vying for victory, political observers mentioned that Maharashtrian in addition to Hindu votes are prone to be cut up in what is going to pave the way in which for a detailed combat.
“Thane is prone to witness a really robust combat as every candidate has their very own clout within the space however it will possibly’t be ignored that it’s Shinde’s bastion. Now, Shiv Sena loyalists may even need to make a big selection between Mahayuti and Sena UBT and the Marathi votes may even be divided between the three events,” political analyst Surendra Jondhale instructed The Indian Categorical.
In the meantime, the meteoric inhabitants increase has spelled considerations for the city constituency’s present assets. Residents of Thane echoed that visitors congestion and lack of satisfactory infrastructure, together with footpaths and roads have emerged as the most important considerations within the area over the previous years.
Within the wake of the rising dependency on tankers within the excessive rises, water shortage and the necessity for brand spanking new dams have additionally come to the fore.
Banking on lately introduced initiatives similar to Rs 12,000-crore inside ring highway Metro challenge, BJP’s Kelkar instructed The Indian Categorical that he’s eager on enhancing public transport to ease the present visitors congestion within the metropolis.
Kelkar mentioned, “Our intention is to work on the all-round improvement of Thane that features enchancment of well being, training, and so forth. We’re additionally emphasising on public transport to ease congestion such because the lately introduced ring-road Metro in Thane. We even have the approval for a second railway station, which can relieve the burden on the present station.”
“For water woes, now we have plans to develop small dams, which had been caught over many years owing to some native agitations,” he mentioned, including that the double-engine sarkar will guarantee quick tempo of works.
In the meantime, Vichare has been highlighting the shortage of labor executed by the incumbent candidate. “Many say it’s a triple combat, however the improvement finished by the native MLA up to now 15 years is nowhere to be seen. I’ve been representing Thane for 35 to 40 years. First as mayor, then as MLA, then twice as MP. Thane metropolis is rising quickly and due to this fact, my agenda is to undertake new initiatives for the rising inhabitants,” mentioned Vichare.
Growth at Thane railway station, Metro, Thane-Borivali tunnel, enchancment of traffic-riddled junctions in addition to deal with water dams, inexperienced areas — are among the many initiatives enlisted in Vichare’s manifesto.
MNS’s Jadhav, who’s extensively campaigning within the space, has additionally drawn mild on the delayed civic works, regardless of the federal government being in energy within the state and the Centre. “For me, there’s a massive distinction between 2019 and 2024 as throughout 2019, I solely had 21 days to organize for elections. But I managed to recover from 70,000 votes. Whereas some events helped me, I additionally obtained these votes as I occurred to work for folks. It doesn’t matter what they are saying in regards to the robust combat in Thane, I’ll get at the very least 97,000 votes this time,” Jadhav mentioned a a public gathering.
Know your seat
Constituency title: Thane
Candidates:
Sanjay Kelkar (BJP — Mahayuti)
Rajan Vichare (Sena UBT – MVA)
Avinash Jadhav (MNS)
Inhabitants (No. of voters): 3,78,342
Males: 1,94,958
Girls: 1,83,242
Muslim voters (in 2019) 8%, SC voters 4.91%, and ST voters 2.12%
Voter turnout figures in 2019 Meeting elections: 52.92%
Winner in 2019 and margin: BJP’s Sanjay Kelkar defeated MNS’ Avinash Jadhav by 15,526 votes.
Get together that led the Meeting constituency in 2024 Lok Sabha elections: Shiv Sena (Mahayuti) by 48,062 votes.
