Zeeshan Siddique vs Varun Sardesai: Who will lead Bandra East this time around?

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Bandra East (Vandre East) Assembly seat has become a focal point in the Maharashtra elections, as two young leaders from influential political families, Zeeshan Siddique and Varun Sardesai, go head-to-head. Zeeshan Siddique, representing the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, is the son of the late NCP leader Baba Siddique, who was murdered earlier this year. Opposing him is Varun Sardesai, nephew-in-law of Uddhav Thackeray, contesting on behalf of the Shiv Sena (UBT) under the MVA alliance.

Maharashtra Election Results

Jharkhand Election Results

Bypoll Election Results

Constituency Dynamics

Bandra East, one of Maharashtra’s 288 Assembly constituencies, is a melting pot of communities, including Marathi-speakers, Dalits, Muslims, slum residents, and migrants. These diverse groups hold significant sway over the constituency's electoral outcomes, making it a critical seat in Maharashtra's political landscape.

Historical Context

In the 2019 election, the constituency had 251,371 registered voters, with 126,597 valid votes cast. Zeeshan Siddique, then an Indian National Congress candidate, won the seat with 38,337 votes, defeating Shiv Sena’s Vishwanath Mahadeshwar by a margin of 5,790 votes. In the 2014 election, Shiv Sena's Prakash (Bala) Sawant had won with a larger margin of 15,597 votes, underscoring the constituency's shifting loyalties.

Evolving Alliances

Since 2019, Maharashtra's political scene has undergone dramatic changes. Following the last Assembly elections, the BJP-led NDA