Mumbai, the maximum city is also the one with maximum contrasts. In the north-east constituency of Mumbai, life on the two sides of the highway literally presents the two faces of the city. Ghatkopar and Mankhurd lie on two sides of a highway in northeast Mumbai. While one is eager to vote, the other is simmering with anger due to political apathy.
The areas consist of a diverse demographic profile of 16 lakh voters consisting of Maharashtrians, Gujaratis, Muslims and Dalits. While Ghatkopar has gated housing societies, Mankhurd is steeped in abject poverty and is located next to Mumbai's largest garbage dumping ground. While there is palpable excitement regarding elections on one side, the other sits sulking in sheer indifference towards politics.
Tapping into this disenchantment is Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate and social activist, Medha Patkar, who is banking on years of social work to help garner votes.
"Bhrashtachaar ka kachra saaf karnay kay liye agar jhaadoo nahi chali toh ham faavda lekar ayengay (If the broom, party symbol of AAP, fails to cleanse the system of corruption, we will get a spade," Patkar said.
BJP's Kirit Somaiya, however, is emboldened by the absence of an MNS candidate. He is confident of bagging the sizable Maharashtrian and Gujarati votes.
It's said that elections in Mumbai are won or lost in such cramped bylanes, for the upper middle class in the city is notorious for not turning up for voting. Whether the city honours its date with democracy on Thursday remains to be seen.
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