Juhu’s Ward 63 most popular ticket in town

Juhu’s Ward 63 is the most high profile ward in the city. It is home to some of the biggest Bollywood stars - Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Shabana Azmi and Javed
Akhtar - and their relatives in the country as well as close associates of senior politicians. The ward also boasts the most residents’ associations in the city and houses some well-known education institutions. 

Considered a “jewel” among 97 wards in the Western suburbs, the Bhakti Vedanta Mandir Cooper Hospital has become a bone of contention for both the Shiv Sena and the BJP. “It is an upper middle-class ward,” says a senior BJP politician. “If we were to control it, we can control the Western suburbs.”

In the upcoming elections, the Sena plans to field 31 candidates in the northeast suburbs while the BJP will contest in 11 seats. But they will not get much support. “We are supporting an AGNI candidate because the outfit is apolitical,” says the well-known lyricist.

There are over 30 ALMs and NGOs in the ward, and most have fielded Adolph D’souza, the AGNI coordinator as their consensus candidate. “We are not bothered with politicians and political parties,” says D’souza. “We want to bring civic governance.”

Juhu was among the worst-affected areas during the 26/7 deluge.