Mumbai: Civic poll spotlight on youth as parties court new voters

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With the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections in sight, political parties are revamping their strategies to attract the next generation of voters. Both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Opposition Shiv Sena UBT are planning to give youth leaders a platform to make a significant impact in the upcoming civic polls, according to political pundits.

The Shiv Sena, which ruled the BMC for over two decades, has decided to introduce new faces in its shakhas (local branches). Party insiders said new appointments of office-bearers at the ward level will start soon, providing opportunities for young leaders to connect with new voters. Former mayor and Shiv Sena UBT spokesperson Kishori Pednekar said, "Shiv Sena is a youth party. We have a youth network, and the party always gives responsibility to the youth." She added that changing office bearers is a routine process, not just for elections, and that both youth and experienced individuals will get opportunities.

The BJP, a strong contender in the upcoming civic poll, has also decided to give opportunities to young leaders in its parent organisation. The party has set an age limit of 35-45 for Mandal Adhikari (ward-level leaders), which is considered the "youth face" in politics. Bhalchandra Shirsat, BJP spokesperson, said the appointment of office bearers is an ongoing process, and this time the party has decided to appoint Mandal Adhikari, responsible for two electoral wards, from the 35-45 age group.

Other parties, including the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and Congress, are also giving opportunities to young leaders. Sandeep Deshpande, former corporator and city head of MNS, said most office bearers in the party are young, and new appointments will provide further opportunities for youth.

Nizamuddin Rayeen, spokesperson for the Mumbai Congress, said the party always gives opportunities to youth, with 33 per cent of party faces being youth. The party has also launched a program to give ground-level office bearers a chance to create leadership.

With around 10.65 lakh new voters registered in Mumbai in the last seven years, political parties are focusing on attracting young voters. Each electoral ward has seen a rise of around 4000-5000 voters, and parties believe these are mainly youth voters between 18-30 years. Observers say these are uncertain voters who can be swayed by parties that connect with them early. Political analysts Abhay Deshpande and Hemant Desai said the upcoming civic poll will be a significant contest between Shiv Sena UBT and BJP, with both parties trying to attract young voters. Deshpande added that old and traditional leaders may have limitations in fighting the ruling party, while new faces have no vested interests and can fight harder.

The civic election, delayed due to pending cases in the Supreme Court, is expected to take place in October or November this year. The term of the civic body ended in 2022, but the cases related to OBC and ward delimitation are pending in the Supreme Court. In 2017, there were 217 wards, and after delimitation, the number of wards increased by nine, becoming 236 wards during the Maha Vikas Aghadi rule in the state. These two cases are still pending in the Supreme Court. Political parties are hoping the election will be conducted in October or November this year.

Mumbai is not the only city in the state without elected representatives; around 17 corporations in the state have been without corporators for almost three to five years. Political observers say this election will see a fight mainly between the Shiv Sena UBT and the BJP.

The undivided Shiv Sena ruled the city for more than two decades. After the split in the party, almost 30 former corporates who won in 2017 joined the Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. In the 2017 civic poll, the Shiv Sena won 84 seats while BJP won 82 seats. Later six MNS corporators joined the Shiv Sena. This is the first time the BJP and Shiv Sena are contesting elections independently after more than
two decades.