Congress Registers First Win in BMC Elections as Asha Deepak Kale Triumphs from Dharavi

Mumbai, January 16:
In a significant early breakthrough in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Congress candidate Asha Deepak Kale has emerged victorious from Ward 183 in Dharavi, marking the party’s first win in the civic polls. Kale defeated Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) candidate Vaishali Shewale by a margin of 1,450 votes.

The defeat of Vaishali Shewale has drawn particular attention, as she is the sister-in-law of former Member of Parliament Rahul Shewale, making the result politically noteworthy. Asha Kale’s victory is being seen as a strong signal of Congress’s ability to challenge established political strongholds in central Mumbai.

Who is Asha Deepak Kale?

Asha Deepak Kale is a grassroots Congress leader from Dharavi who has steadily built her political presence among local residents. After her win, she expressed gratitude to the people of Dharavi for their support and credited senior Congress leader and Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad for the success. She also acknowledged the backing of MLA Jyoti Gaikwad and party workers, calling the result a collective victory.

Speaking after the results, Kale said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was never a serious contender in her ward and emphasized that the mandate reflected public trust in Congress’s local leadership and development-oriented agenda.

Congress Strengthens Foothold in Central Mumbai

Adding to the party’s momentum, Congress candidate Ashraf Azmi also won from Ward 165, Kurla West, further strengthening the party’s position in central Mumbai. These victories suggest a revival of Congress’s urban base and its capacity to challenge dominant rivals in municipal politics.

Voter Turnout and Election Overview

According to civic officials, the BMC elections recorded an overall voter turnout of 52.94%, slightly lower than the 55.53% turnout in the 2017 elections. Among the 227 wards, Ward 114 in Bhandup (suburban Mumbai) registered the highest turnout at 64.53%, while Ward 227 in Colaba (South Mumbai) saw the lowest turnout at 20.88%.

Out of more than 10.3 million eligible voters, just over half exercised their franchise on polling day, which was held from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. The BMC announced the final results within 15 hours of the completion of voting, reflecting a swift counting process.

Asha Kale’s victory not only gives Congress an early boost in the BMC elections but also reshapes the political narrative in Dharavi, highlighting the growing impact of local leadership and voter-driven change in Mumbai’s civic politics.