Ahead of 2019 Polls, BJP & Shiv Sena Compete Over ‘Vikas’ Done

Maharashtra, with 48 LS seats, is the 2nd biggest state after UP. This is why BJP is focusing more on this state.

BJP and Congress compete over the ‘vikas’ done in Maharashtra.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam

As the General Elections of 2019 are approaching, there is a stiff competition between the Shiv Sena and the BJP. If Uddhav Thackeray brings to the table his big plans such as building the Bhavya garden on Mumbai's Mahalakshmi Race Course, then BJP shows its long list of development projects spread across the first quarter of the next year.

Maharashtra, with 48 Lok Sabha seats, is the second biggest state after UP.
This is why the BJP is working in the state with increased focus. The party feels that demonstrating they are doing more work might benefit them in elections.

Face of 'Vikas' in Mumbai

For instance, on 18 December, PM Narendra Modi will first do a bhoomipoojan of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna from Kalyan to launch Metro 5 and Metro 9 which will run between Kalyan-Bhiwandi-Thane. There will be 17 stations in the stretch of 24 km. The government promises to launch this service by 2021. This area is developing at a good pace with many residential projects in the pipeline.

Metro 9 is between Dahisar and Mira Bhayandar. The population here is 20 lakh. PM will also announce 63,000 low cost houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna. PM will reach Pune from Kalyan. He will also visit Pune to inaugurate Pune Metro Phase-3.

Maharashtra Will Have The Country's 'Biggest Highway'

The PM is slated to visit Maharashtra again in January for the bhoomipoojan of Nagpur-Mumbai Samrudhhi expressway corridor. The people of Vidharbha and Marathwada are likely to benefit from this Rs 32,000-crore project, and the BJP is hoping to gain politically from it. In 2014, these two regions proved to be vital for the party. This project will make it possible for commuters to travel between Nagpur and Mumbai in just 8 hours. Maharashtra government claims that this highway of 900 km is the longest expressway in the country.

PM Modi will visit Maharashtra once more in February to inaugurate the Trans-Harbour Link Project which is another ambitious project of the Maharashtra government.

Shiv Sena Wants a Piece of 'Vikas' Too

Like the BJP, the Shiv Sena too doesn't wish to be left behind and has laid down some plans including the Bhavya garden that Uddhav Thackeray wishes to build on Mumbai's Mahalakshmi Race Course. If the Maharashtra government approves, party president Uddhav Thackeray will do its bhoomipoojan.

What Makes Maharashtra Crucial for the BJP

Maharshtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats. In 2014, BJP had won 22 seats while the Shiv Sena got 18. One seat was won by ally Raju Shetty.

The cracks between the BJP and Shiv Sena alliance might pose challenges for both parties in 2019. As a result, it looks like that the BJP is pursuing its development-related projects in Maharashtra with aggression. And because of this, the BJP is confident that in 2019 elections PM Modi will again be able to woo the voters of Maharashtra even if Shiv Sena doesn't extend its support to the BJP.