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By:

Naresh Kamath

5 November 2024 at 5:30:38 am

Battle royale at Prabhadevi-Mahim belt

Amidst cut-throat competition, five seats up for grabs Mumbai: South Central Mumbai’s Prabhadevi-Mahim belt, an epicentre of Mumbai’s politics, promises a cut-throat competition as the two combines – Mahayuti and the Shiv Sena (UBT)-Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) combine – sweat it out in the upcoming BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. It is the same ward where Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray used to address mammoth rallies at Shivaji Park and also the residence of MNS chief...

Battle royale at Prabhadevi-Mahim belt

Amidst cut-throat competition, five seats up for grabs Mumbai: South Central Mumbai’s Prabhadevi-Mahim belt, an epicentre of Mumbai’s politics, promises a cut-throat competition as the two combines – Mahayuti and the Shiv Sena (UBT)-Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) combine – sweat it out in the upcoming BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. It is the same ward where Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray used to address mammoth rallies at Shivaji Park and also the residence of MNS chief Raj Thackeray. This belt has five wards and boasts of famous landmarks like the Siddhivinayak temple, Mahim Dargah and Mahim Church, and Chaityabhoomi, along with the Sena Bhavan, the headquarters of Shiv Sena (UBT) combine. This belt is dominated by the Maharashtrians, and hence the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS has been vocal about upholding the Marathi pride. This narrative is being challenged by Shiv Sena (Shinde) leader Sada Sarvankar, who is at the front. In fact, Sada has fielded both his children Samadhan and Priya, from two of these five wards. Take the case of Ward number 192, where the MNS has fielded Yeshwant Killedar, who was the first MNS candidate announced by its chief, Raj Thackeray. This announcement created a controversy as former Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Priti Patankar overnight jumped to the Eknath Shinde camp and secured a ticket. This raised heckles among the existing Shiv Sena (Shinde) loyalists who raised objections. “We worked hard for the party for years, and here Priti has been thrust on us. My name was considered till the last moment, and overnight everything changed,” rued Kunal Wadekar, a Sada Sarvankar loyalist. ‘Dadar Neglected’ Killedar said that Dadar has been neglected for years. “The people in chawls don’t get proper water supply, and traffic is in doldrums,” said Killadar. Ward number 191 Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Vishaka Raut, former Mumbai mayor, is locked in a tough fight against Priya Sarvankar, who is fighting on the Shiv Sena (Shinde) ticket. Priya’s brother Samadhan is fighting for his second term from neighbouring ward 194 against Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Nishikant Shinde. Nishikant is the brother of legislator Sunil Shinde, a popular figure in this belt who vacated his Worli seat to accommodate Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray. Sada Sarvankar exudes confidence that both his children will be victorious. “Samadhan has served the people with all his dedication so much that he put his life at stake during the Covid-19 epidemic,” said Sada. “Priya has worked very hard for years and has secured this seat on merit. She will win, as people want a fresh face who will redress their grievances, as Vishaka Raut has been ineffective,” he added. He says the Mahayuti will Ward number 190 is the only ward where the BJP was the winner last term (2017) in this area, and the party has once nominated its candidate, Sheetal Gambhir Desai. Sheetal is being challenged by Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Vaishali Patankar. Sheetal vouches for the BJP, saying it’s time to replace the Shiv Sena (UBT) from the BMC. “They did nothing in the last 25 years, and people should now give a chance to the BJP,” said Sheetal. Incidentally, Sheetal is the daughter of Suresh Gambhir, a hardcore Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray loyalist, who has been a Mahim legislator for 4 terms and even won the 1985 BMC with the highest margin in Mumbai. In the neighbouring ward number 182, Shiv Sena (UBT) has given a ticket to former mayor and veteran corporator Milind Vaidya. He is being challenged by BJP candidate Rajan Parkar. Like the rest of Mumbai, this belt is also plagued by inadequate infrastructure to support the large-scale redevelopment projects. The traffic is in the doldrums, especially due to the closure of the Elphinstone bridge. There are thousands of old buildings and chawls which are in an extremely dilapidated state. The belt is significant, as top leaders like Manohar Joshi, Diwakar Raote and Suresh Gambhir have dominated local politics for years. In fact, Shiv Sena party’s first Chief Minister, Manohar Joshi, hailed from this belt.

Steely Resolve

In the face of mounting American pressure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has drawn a clear line by refusing to barter away India’s sovereignty or the livelihoods of its farmers, shopkeepers and small-scale producers. As Donald Trump unveiled plans to double tariffs on Indian goods to 50 percent, Modi has dismissed the move as unjustified and has vowed not to yield.

 

While Trump brandishes duties as a political weapon, pretending that punishing Indian exporters will somehow end the war in Ukraine, Modi has framed the standoff as a defence of ordinary Indians. India, he made clear, will not compromise its sovereignty for the sake of Washington’s theatrics.

 

The American president’s tariff threat is framed as punishment for India’s continued purchase of Russian crude oil. The logic is tenuous at best. As one of the world’s largest oil importers, India depends on discounted Russian supplies that have saved billions of dollars and kept domestic fuel prices stable. To demand an abrupt severance from this source is unrealistic. Instead of forcing Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, the new duties are likely to devastate Indian exporters of textiles, gems, jewellery and seafood - industries with thin margins that employ millions.

 

The hypocrisy is hard to ignore. Washington continues to trade with regimes it denounces, while financing its own wars abroad. Energy markets are global, fluid and impossible to police perfectly; oil always finds new buyers through intermediaries and rerouted tankers. Penalising Indian exporters has little to do with Ukraine and everything to do with Trump’s preference for tariffs as theatre.

 

However, Modi has turned the episode to his advantage. By invoking the livelihoods of farmers and artisans, he has reframed the dispute as a patriotic duty of resistance. Linking the struggle to Gandhi’s legacy of self-reliance, he has cast Trump’s tariffs not as an economic squeeze but as an affront to India’s sovereignty.

 

The strategic miscalculation in all this has been Washington’s. For years, American policymakers have pressed India to act as a democratic counterweight to China. That vision requires partnership and trust, not coercion. Treating India as a subordinate to be disciplined only risks pushing it further towards alternative trade and energy blocs, from Moscow to Beijing. Trust, once lost, is not easily regained.

 

India’s firmness throughout this affair has been pragmatic. New Delhi remains open to trade with America, but only on reciprocal and respectful terms. It will not be compelled into decisions that jeopardise energy security or impoverish its most vulnerable citizens. The tariffs may cause pain in the short term, but the longer-term cost will be borne by America’s credibility as a reliable partner.

 

Trump’s economic nationalism, dressed up as grand strategy, has always been bluster. Tariffs do not end wars. They disrupt supply chains, stoke inflation and alienate allies. Modi’s stand demonstrates steadiness and resolve. The unmistakable message is that India will not be strong-armed, whether the pressure comes from Moscow, Beijing or the White House.


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