Navi Mumbai civic polls: Eknath Shinde battles Ganesh Naik in first elections after 10 years

NAVI MUMBAI: Civic polls are being held after over 10 years in Navi Mumbai, with Covid having disrupted the last election due in 2020. While Mahayuti allies BJP and Shiv Sena locked themselves in a fierce battle after they failed to form a coalition despite the top leadership's apparent support, the real fight boiled down to just two players: archrivals and heavyweights Ganesh Naik and Eknath Shinde.

Naik denied more seats to Shiv Sena, which asked for 57, while Shinde refused to accept his decades-long dominance. Naik has had command over the city since its inception. He switched affiliations but retained power across Shiv Sena, NCP and now BJP. In 2015, undivided Shiv Sena finished second with 38 corporators, behind Naik-led NCP with 52 corporators backed by 10 Congress members and five independents, while BJP won six of 111 seats. In 2019, Naik and his corporators joined BJP from Sharad Pawar's NCP. BJP has fielded candidates from all 111 seats this time, while Shiv Sena is contesting from 105.




Shinde asked cadres, including Thane MP Naresh Mhaske, to dethrone Naik and capture the mayor's post. BJP's campaign was led by former Thane MP Sanjeev Naik, with his brother, two-time Airoli MLA Sandeep Naik, rejoining the party after over a year in NCP (SP). MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) formed an alliance, with Uddhav Thackeray's party contesting 56 seats and Raj Thackeray's 25. "We have a better chance to muster good votes," said MNS's Navi Mumbai chief Gajanan Kale.

The poll saw dynastic politics, with multiple leaders fielding relatives. Observers flagged key contests in Digha and Vashi and said money could play a key role, mostly in slum pockets and villages.

For the first time, polls are being held in a multi-member panel system. Voters in wards 1 to 27 will vote once for four seats A, B, C, D, while those in ward 28 will vote once for three seats A, B, C.

Environmental issues also shaped the polls. NGO NatConnect Foundation's director B N Kumar said air pollution is now an annual phenomenon, with dust control norms being ignored. Activist Madhu Shankar cited open dumping in Koparkhairane and Sanpada. Gen Z activists under Urvari with NatConnect formed a human chain at Vashi's mini seashore and petitioned Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board. NMMC said monitoring devices were installed at 30 sites, flying squads formed, and action included advisory letters, show-cause notices, stop-work orders and fines. Activists called the measures delayed.

Despite 232 gardens and 91 playgrounds, per capita open space was about 3sqm, below WHO norms and AMRUT's 9-10sqm, while activist Vishnu Joshi said Cidco auctions eroded open spaces. NatConnect sought recycled water use and activists said voters must demand clean air, safe water and liveable green spaces.