Haji Sheikh Ibrahim may spoil Priya Dutt’s party

Mumbai North Central constituency, with its 73% slum voters and a strong contingent of elite voters, presents a slice of urban India.

With more than 16 lakh electors, this is the largest of all constituencies in suburban Mumbai and battling for it are Priya Dutt of the Congress, Mahesh Jethmalani of the BJP and Haji Sheikh Ibrahim of the BSP.

Though the area has traditionally voted for the Congress, residents from its eastern part are not happy with present MP Priya Dutt’s performance, especially after 26/7 that devastated the eastern part of the Western Express highway.

Priya’s problems will be compounded by Haji Ibrahim Sheikh of the BSP, the one who poses her the most serious challenge. Sheikh, also known as bhaijaan, is very influential among Muslims, and will surely draw the votes of backward castes. He could cause a big dent in the chunk of minority votes that traditionally go to the Congress. Of the BJP and the MNS, the former should have been thought as a serious contender, but rather than pose a serious challenge, is banking on the Congress to defeat itself.

The rehabilitation of slum-dwellers occupying airport land has come into focus. Mahesh Jethmalani has met them and said they will not be resettled in far off areas. But Priya seems to have done little. “We weren’t told anything and then one day a bulldozer came and razed our shanties,” said NS Khan, a slum-dweller. “When we told Priya, she said she will do something.”