The Byculla Assembly constituency known for landmarks like the Khada Parsi statue and a bustling zoo ans now it is at the heart of a political showdown. This diverse region faces chronic issues like delayed redevelopment, water shortages, narrow roads and a hawker problem affecting traffic and pedestrians.
In this election, rival factions of the Shiv Sena (UBT and Shinde camps) and AIMIM are the main contenders. Notably, Byculla hasn’t elected the same MLA twice since 2009.
Residents highlight key concerns:
Hawker Management: Local resident calls for a permanent solution to balance hawkers’ livelihoods with traffic and pedestrian movement.
Accident-Prone Areas: People points out the safety issues near the zoo flyover and railway station bottlenecks.
Redevelopment and Infrastructure: Narrow roads and incomplete projects frustrate voters.
Political Perspectives:
Manoj Jamsutkar (Sena UBT) believes voter support and alliances with Congress, NCP-SP and AAP will prevent vote from splitting.
“Every election had different equations. In earlier polls, candidates won due to the division of votes between two or more parties; this time, this may not be the case. I have been consistently holding rallies in the constituency and getting tremendous support from voters. Also, Congress, NCP-SP and AAP are with us, so I don’t think there will be any division of votes and voters will choose the Sena (UBT) this time,” said Manoj Jamsutkar.
Meanwhile, current MLA Yamini Jadhav supported by her husband Yashwant Jadhav, highlights her rapport with constituents and claims to have transformed Byculla through initiatives.
Yamini Jadhav said, “I haven’t checked who else is contesting and I am not interested either. My husband, Yashwant Jadhav, and I have changed the face of Byculla by undertaking various initiatives. When I make rounds in my constituency with my hands folded, I am not required to introduce myself to people. That is my asset and I am banking on it.”
As Byculla prepares for another election, residents hope for solutions to their long-standing issues. It’s in the hands of voter to chose the better future.
