The BJP’s resolution to nominate Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik as election chief for seven organizational wards within the Mumbai Metropolitan Area (MMR), together with Thane, the house of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, within the run-up to the upcoming native physique polls has renewed consideration on certainly one of Navi Mumbai’s most distinguished politicians.
The elevation of Naik, Shinde’s long-time rival, is seen as a possible new flashpoint between Mahayuti’s associate the BJP and the Shiv Sena, a fragile equation that has formed regional politics over the previous three years.
Throughout his 4 many years in public life, Mr. Naik has constructed a status for asserting himself in tough political conditions and difficult highly effective leaders. Up to now, he parted methods with Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray and stood his floor towards the Thane occasion, which was as soon as led by Shinde chief Anand Dighe.
Born in Bonkode, a small village in present-day Navi Mumbai that progressively grew to become urbanized because of the Trans Thane Creek (TTC) MIDC industrial zone, Naik emerged as one of many first villages within the area to take up labor and civic issues. His political aptitude developed early, when, as a youngster, he assumed accountability for the TTC’s masadi (head loaders) and industrial unions, mediating disputes and serving to native youth discover jobs.
This employee community grew to become his central help base and was a pure alignment with the Sena’s enlargement into Navi Mumbai within the late Nineteen Seventies. Bolstered by their help, Naik quickly grew to become the face of Vashi, Nerul, Airoli, Turbe, Ghansoli and Sena within the TTC belt.
By the Nineteen Eighties, Naik had established himself in Navi Mumbai, however his rise inside the Shiv Sena was removed from easy. Because the occasion expanded, Mr. Naik’s territory more and more overlapped with Mr. Dighe’s, forcing Mr. Thackeray to intervene and declare Navi Mumbai his territory.
Mr. Naik’s first main electoral victory got here within the 1990 meeting polls from Belapur seat. 5 years later, he was appointed as a minister within the Manohar Joshi-led cupboard of the Shiv Sena-BJP authorities.
Nevertheless, Naik’s heavy-handed fashion quickly got here into battle with each Joshi and Thackeray. He ceaselessly disagreed with Joshi on departmental points and publicly criticized the CM, a rarity within the Sena. Mr. Naik refused to resign as minister and was finally eliminated by Mr. Joshi with Mr. Thackeray’s approval.
Within the late Nineteen Nineties, inside friction spilled over into native politics because the Sena misplaced management of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Company. The ultimate blow got here in 1999, when Mr. Naik switched to the newly fashioned Nationalist Congress Get together (NCP). Nevertheless, within the meeting polls held later that yr, Naik suffered defeat.
Journey after Senna
Mr. Naik languished for a number of years after the defeat and returned in 2004 as NCP MLA from Belapur. He was appointed Excise Minister and held a number of necessary portfolios over the following decade, additional strengthening his affect throughout Navi Mumbai’s civic and industrial corridors.
In 2014, Naik misplaced to his former colleague Manda Matoru of the Bharatiya Janata Get together, who had accused him of corruption. This defeat, coupled with the Bharatiya Janata Get together’s rising dominance in Maharashtra, introduced Mr. Naik nearer to the occasion. He finally joined the BJP in 2019 forward of the meeting elections and received the Airoli seat for the occasion.
Nevertheless, because of the BJP’s long-standing rivalry with Shinde, he was not in a position to enter the cupboard. After 5 years, he was lastly sworn in as forest minister and Devendra Fadnavis returned as deputy chief minister. Since then, the BJP has used him strategically within the MMR, particularly in Thane, the place Shinde’s affect is strongest.
Why he’s the go-to for the BJP
Other than the rivalry with Shinde, Naik’s affect within the MMR and Navi Mumbai provides the BJP a parallel base within the area, which seems to be dominated by the deputy CM.
Mr. Naik has a long-standing presence within the TTC and his connections with employees and contractors permit him to shortly mobilize help. His political independence and historical past of difficult greats like Thackeray, Digh and Joshi with out worry of political prices make him one of many few leaders who can tackle Shinde in his personal yard.
Mr. Naik additionally brings functioning native organizations to the negotiating desk, whereas his community of industrialists and former MLAs supplies floor help to the Bharatiya Janata Get together throughout the Navi Mumbai and Thane areas, the place Mr. Shinde’s attain is restricted.
The forest minister’s social connections additionally labored in his favor. Though he continues to have roots in Matadi and Marathi talking communities and Agricoli teams, over time he has constructed a robust base amongst Gujaratis, Muslims, North Indians and OBCs.
Mr. Naik’s deep understanding of the workings of CIDCO, NMMC and different native our bodies in a area the place growth and planning selections decide political outcomes makes him an excellent selection for the Bharatiya Janata Get together.
