Varsha Gaikwad, the chief of the Mumbai unit of the Congress party, is set to run for the Mumbai North Central constituency.

The Dharavi MLA, who initially aimed for the Mumbai South Central seat but was disappointed by not receiving the ticket, has now expressed readiness to move forward. After prolonged discussions within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the Congress has declared the candidacy of Varsha Gaikwad, the party’s Mumbai unit chief and Dharavi MLA, for the Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha constituency.                           

Gaikwad, who previously sought the Mumbai South Central seat (which includes Dharavi) and was disheartened by the initial decision, has now embraced reconciliation and is confident about winning this election. The Mumbai North Central seat, presently held by the BJP’s Poonam Mahajan, is yet to announce its candidate from the ruling Mahayuti alliance. This seat is scheduled for the fifth and final phase of elections in Maharashtra on May 20

Gaikwad affirmed her commitment to securing victory in Mumbai North Central, emphasizing its historical significance as a Congress stronghold that has been won multiple times in the past. She expressed gratitude to the Congress leadership for entrusting her with this responsibility.

Previously, Gaikwad had expressed discontent and criticized the State Congress leadership for what she perceived as insufficient efforts during seat-sharing negotiations with the Shiv Sena. However, she has now chosen to focus on the present and thanked the Congress leadership for their support.

In the BJP camp, potential candidates for the Mumbai North Central seat include Poonam Mahajan, Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar, and senior counsel Ujjwal Nikam.