Only a well-grounded candidate, selected after careful evaluation of local dynamics, can reverse the party’s fortunes in the coming elections
Team Clarion
MUMBAI – As the Maharashtra Assembly elections get closer, the Congress party is grappling with internal challenges in selecting the right candidates for the Bhiwandi East and West constituencies, where Muslim voters play a decisive role. The party, which has faced consecutive defeats in these constituencies for the past 20 years, is under pressure to field candidates who can break the losing streak and bring victory to the party in this Muslim-majority region.
The last time the Congress succeeded in these constituencies was in 1999 when Abdul Rasheed Tahir Momin, a prominent figure in the Muslim community, won the seat from Bhiwandi West. Momin defeated Shiv Sena’s Madan Krishna Naik by a margin of 22,577 votes. Since then, the Congress has struggled to replicate this success, even as it maintains a strong presence in the Bhiwandi Municipal Corporation.
Despite the influence of Congress in local governance, the party has consistently lost ground in assembly elections. Notably, in the 2019 election, Congress candidates Shoaib Khan Guddu and Santosh Shetty from Bhiwandi West and East, respectively, finished third in the race, failing to capitalise on the party’s traditional voter base.
This year, more than half a dozen leaders have expressed interest in securing the Congress ticket for the Bhiwandi constituencies. Among the key aspirants are former MLA Tahir Momin, former mayor Vilas Patil, Suresh Thawre, Tariq Farooqui, Anas Ansari, Talha Momin, and advocate Samia Shujauddin Ansari. Each of these leaders is confident about their prospects, leading to a competitive race for the party nomination.
However, political analysts caution that failure to select the right candidate could further prolong the Congress party’s retreat in the region. The choice of candidate will be critical, as the party needs someone who can unite the Muslim vote and appeal to broader segments of the electorate.
Bhiwandi East and West are both known for their substantial Muslim populations, which are crucial in determining the election outcome. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, Suresh Mahatre, the candidate of the INDIA bloc, secured the most votes in these constituencies, with 18,358 votes from Bhiwandi West and 18,113 from Bhiwandi East, signalling the potential for success if the Congress can rally Muslim voters.
Congress insiders are well aware that a carefully chosen candidate could turn the tide in their favour, but there is growing concern that some aspirants lack the electoral strength to even win local ward elections. As a result, many senior Congress leaders have launched lobbying efforts in Delhi, seeking to influence the high command’s decision on ticket allocation.
The past two decades have been marked by missed opportunities for Congress in Bhiwandi. In 2009, former mayor Javed Dalvi from the West constituency and Gurnath Thawre from the East constituency both lost after being fielded by Congress. In 2004, despite a high-profile campaign led by Sonia Gandhi, the Congress candidate Shujauddin Ansari failed to win the seat.
The story has been similar in subsequent elections, with Congress consistently failing to secure a victory despite its strong local base in Bhiwandi’s municipal governance.
As Congress prepares for the upcoming assembly elections, there is growing consensus within the party that only a well-grounded candidate, selected after careful evaluation of local dynamics, can reverse its fortunes in Bhiwandi. A comprehensive ground survey is being advised by party insiders to ensure the selection process takes into account the true sentiments of the electorate.
With Muslim voters holding the key to electoral success in both Bhiwandi East and West, the Congress must balance internal factionalism with the need to unite its base and appeal to a broad swath of voters. Political observers agree that this election could be a turning point for the party in Bhiwandi – if it makes the right decisions.
