Will the ‘house of Naiks’ survive anti-incumbency in Navi Mumbai?
Resentment against the family’s one-upmanship has prompted rebels to contest against them
MUMBAI: After his son Sanjeev Naik’s Lok Sabha defeat just four months ago, NCP strongman and Navi Mumbai satrap Ganesh Naik doesn’t seem to have it all that easy.
Over the past two decades, fivetime legislator Ganesh Naik has pretty much been ruling Navi Mumbai. The trade union leader turned Sena strongman who later joined the NCP held important ministerial positions ranging from forest and environment, labour, and excise portfolios. He has also been ruling the Navi Mumbai civic body right from the beginning. Over the years, Naik, who is legislator of Belapur constituency and guardian minister of Thane district, expanded his empire by inducting his sons and nephew into the political fray.
His elder son Sanjeev Naik was MP from Thane Lok Sabha (LS) constituency, while younger son Sandeep is legislator of the Airoli constituency. His nephew Sagar Naik is the mayor of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC). It is no surprise that the Opposition derisively calls them ‘the house of Naiks.’
However, the defeat of his son Sanjeev in the Thane LS constituency, where his opponent Sena MP Rajan Vichare won by a huge lead, has shaken the Naiks. What’s more, resentment brewing in local NCP and Congress circles owing to family’s one-upmanship has prompted rebels to stand against him and Sandeep.
In Airoli Assembly constituency, local Sena strongman Vijay Chougule is riding high on the Sena goodwill and Marathi manoos card, while Sandeep’s cousin Vaibhav Naik has defected from Sena and joined the BJP. In Belapur Assembly constituency, Ganesh Naik will clash with NCP rebel Manda Mhatre, now a BJP candidate. Local Congressman Namdeo Bhagat, who never supported Naik despite being in an alliance all these years, is also fighting him.
Political experts feel that the Naiks might sail through due to cross-voting. Also there are NCP strongholds like Koparkhairane and Bankhode where they will lead. In Airoli, while Vaibhav is popular, the Sena will cut into his votes, benefitting Sandeep. In Belapur, the anti-ganesh Naik votes will get divided among the rebels, Mhatre and Bhagat. Sena candidate Vijay Nahata, who was the Navi Mumbai municipal commissioner, and Mhatre, might cut into each other’s votes.
“We will win both the seats. People here trust us. We got the cluster scheme approved, and there is a proposed metro-rail which will develop Navi Mumbai further. No rebels will cause any effect on our votes, and now the Modi wave has died,” said Sandeep Naik. However, Congress leader Namdeo Bhagat points out that people are tired of Naik’s highhanded ways and the controversies sullying his reputation, like the demolition of the glass house and his illegally built home.
“For years, we protested against him. Now for the first time people have been given a choice and I am sure they will be voted out,” he said. Another issue that might be a matter of concern is the change in the electoral map of Navi Mumbai. The new voter tally for both the constituencies put together is 8.15 lakh, which is an increase of 2 lakh from 2009. The two constituencies saw some of the highest voter registrations in the Konkan region, with Airoli adding 37,000 voters and Belapur adding 27,499 voters from the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
“The socio-economic map of Navi Mumbai is changing. Newer belts are occupied by upwardly mobile young couples who are not locals. They have aspirations and want to ask questions. I doubt if a family rule will survive,” said 29-year-old Shailaja Deshmukh, an architect who was born and lives in Sanpada. As of now, the battlelines are drawn and the Naiks have taken their position.