BMC Elections: Ward 34 Contest Sees Aslam Sheikh’s Son Haider Take on BJP’s John Dennis

Malvani: In Ward 34 of Malvani, the upcoming BMC elections are witnessing a high-stakes contest as Congress candidate Haider Aslam Sheikh, son of local MLA and senior leader Aslam Sheikh, faces off directly against BJP’s John Dennis. Haider, making his electoral debut, claims he is well-prepared to outmaneuver his rivals, drawing on his experience assisting his father with campaign strategy, election rallies, and voter outreach.

On the other hand, BJP’s John Dennis is counting on support from North Indian voters, local business communities, and the Marwari-Gujarati and Christian populations. In addition, Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Vikas Dashpute and Samajwadi Party’s Jaynesh Mishra are also in the fray. A total of 10 candidates are contesting from Ward 34, including six from the Muslim community, two Marathi, one North Indian, and one Christian candidate.

Ward 34 has a diverse voter base, with 55% Muslim, 15% Marathi, 10% Gujarati-Marwari, and 20% comprising Sindhi, Christian, and other communities. The total electorate numbers 56,955, with 29,799 men, 26,875 women, and 281 others.

Key issues in the ward include traffic congestion, narrow roads, drug trafficking, crime, law and order, inadequate educational institutions, and water supply challenges, particularly in the Old and New Collector Compounds where slum settlements have awaited development for years. All candidates have promised to address these long-standing problems in their campaigns.