From Bike Rallies To Public Meetings: How Mumbai Lok Sabha Candidates Campaigned On Last Day

Voting for the six key seats in Mumbai for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections will be held on Monday, May 20, during the fifth phase. Consequently, today, May 18, marked the final day of campaigning for candidates. Both the Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi alliances kicked off their efforts early, engaging in a series of campaign events including roadshows, bike rallies, public meetings, and voter interaction programs. Major state leaders from all parties participated, aiming to make a strong final impression on voters.

Here’s a summary of the activities undertaken by the major candidates on all 6 seats on the last day of campaigning:

1) Mumbai South

Yamini Jadhav (Shiv Sena - Shinde)

Yamini Jadhav began her day with a bike rally alongside BJP leader and Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly, Rahul Narvekar. Later, actor Govinda, a recent addition to Shinde Sena, joined her campaign rally. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Milind Deora, and Yashwant Jadhav also participated in her campaign during the latter part of the day.

Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena - UBT)

The incumbent MP, Arvind Sawant, interacted with voters during a morning walk. His digital campaign focused on his plans if re-elected. Later, Uddhav Thackeray held a rally for him at Kalachowki, accompanied by Ambadas Danve, Amin Patel, Tushar Gandhi, and Preeti Menon Sharma from the MVA alliance.

2) Mumbai South Central

Rahul Shewale (BJP)

Rahul Shewale led a bike rally with support from BJP Mumbai President Ashish Shelar, MLA Prasad Lad, and others. In the afternoon, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and MLC Manisha Kayande joined his campaign.

माननीय मुख्यमंत्री श्री एकनाथ शिंदे यांनी प्रचाराच्या अखेरच्या दिवशी मुंबईत आयोजित करण्यात आलेल्या आशीर्वाद यात्रेत सहभागी होऊन कार्यकर्त्यांचा उत्साह वाढवला.#Shivsena#BJP#RPI#MNS#mahayuti#AbkiBaar400Paar#AbkiBaarShivsenaKeSath400Paar#BalasahebKeVicharoKiModiSarkaar… pic.twitter.com/Z2DxDvjNYZ

— Rahul Shewale - राहुल शेवाळे (@shewale_rahul) May 18, 2024

Anil Desai (Shiv Sena - UBT)

Anil Desai also led a bike rally and garnered support from local organizations like Rashtriya Ekta Dal and Jaisvar Vikas Sangh. Uddhav Thackeray addressed a campaign rally for Desai in Dadar later in the day.

#दक्षिणमध्यमुंबई मतदार संघातील माहिम-दादर विधानसभा क्षेत्र येथे शिवसेना पक्षप्रमुख श्री. उद्धव जी ठाकरे साहेब यांच्या उपस्थितीत सभा पार पडली. यावेळी स्थानिक नागरिक मोठ्या संख्येने उपस्थित होते. तसेच यावेळी दक्षिण मध्य मुंबईच्या विकासासाठी मशाल ला भरघोस मतांनी निवडून आणण्याचा… pic.twitter.com/D9yjebjgCe

— Anil Desai (@ianildesai) May 18, 2024

3) Mumbai North

Piyush Goyal (BJP)

Union Minister Piyush Goyal met voters during a morning walk in Borivali and released a video explaining the impact of their votes. 

आपके एक वोट की ताक़त... pic.twitter.com/i9v1jV2NAc

— Piyush Goyal (मोदी का परिवार) (@PiyushGoyal) May 18, 2024

Bhushan Patil (Congress) 

The Congress party organized a bike roadshow for Bhushan Patil from Malad to Borivali. The rally featured prominent leaders like Aaditya Thackeray, Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole, and MLAs Aslam Shaikh and Naseem Khan.

उत्तर मुंबई लोकसभा मतदारसंघात माझ्या प्रचारार्थ, प्रचार महारैली मध्ये माझा उत्साह वाढवण्यासाठी उपस्थित राहिलेले युवासेना प्रमुख, शिवसेना नेते आमदार @AUThackeray जी, महाराष्ट्र प्रदेश काँग्रेसचे अध्यक्ष @NANA_PATOLE जी यांचे मनपूर्वक धन्यवाद ! #भूमिपुत्र_BHUSHAN#NorthMumbaipic.twitter.com/gE6wEZnpHo

— Bhushan Patil (@bhushankpatil12) May 18, 2024

4) Mumbai North Central

Adv Ujjwal Nikam (BJP) 

Ujjwal Nikam interacted with voters in Hiranandani gardens, campaigned in Vile Parle, and met with business associations in Kurla. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a rally for him in Kurla, supported by BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar.

Varsha Gaikwad (Congress)

Varsha Gaikwad focused on a bike rally from Bandra to Kurla and attended the INDIA bloc press conference. She also released a manifesto addressing key issues in her constituency.

विजयाचा गुलाल आपलाच!! #AapliTaiVarshaTai#MumbaiChiTaiVarshaTai#HaathBadlegaHalaatpic.twitter.com/EM1gfE62pW

— Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) May 18, 2024

5) Mumbai North West

Ravindra Waikar (Shiv Sena - Shinde)

Ravindra Waikar addressed public meetings in Malad's Aarey Sarita and participated in rallies in Kajuwadi and Goregaon West with Union Minister Ramdas Athawale. He concluded with a meeting in Jogeshwari East.

Amol Kirtikar (Shiv Sena - UBT)

Uddhav Thackeray led a bike rally for Amol Kirtikar, joined by former ministers Subhash Desai, Anil Parab, and MLA Sunil Prabhu. Thackeray also released a video urging voters to support Kirtikar.

माझ्या प्रचारार्थ शिवसेना पक्षप्रमुख, कुटुंबप्रमुख मा. श्री. उद्धवसाहेब ठाकरे यांच्या प्रमुख उपस्थितीत भव्य "बाईक रॅली" तुफान प्रतिसादात पार पडली. हजारो महाविकास आघाडीचे कार्यकर्ते व शिवसैनिकांनी बाईक घेऊन संपूर्ण रस्ते भगवामय केले. यावेळी शिवसेना नेते माजी मंत्री श्री सुभाष… pic.twitter.com/byTikL7VVK

— Amol Gajanan Kirtikar - अमोल गजानन कीर्तिकर (@AmolGKirtikar) May 18, 2024

6) Mumbai North East

Mihir Kotecha (BJP)

Mihir Kotecha held a roadshow in Bhandup with Union Minister Narayan Rane and visited the MNS office in Vikhroli with Raj Thackeray.

आज सन्माननीय श्री. राज ठाकरेसाहेब यांच्याबरोबर विक्रोळी पूर्व व भांडुप पश्चिम येथील मनसेच्या शाखांना भेट दिली. यावेळी मी देखील त्यांच्यासोबत उपस्थित मनसेच्या कार्यकर्त्यांशी संवाद साधला. महायुतीतील सहकारी पक्ष म्हणून मनसेने आणि राज ठाकरेसाहेबांनी वेळीवेळी साथ दिली आहे. याबद्दल मी… pic.twitter.com/ylkDTxbgmD

— Mihir Kotecha (Modi Ka Parivar) (@mihirkotecha) May 18, 2024

Sanjay Dina Patil (Shiv Sena - UBT)

Sanjay Dina Patil distributed voter slips and had Uddhav Thackeray address a public meeting in Vikhroli. Other prominent Shiv Sena leaders, including Sanjay Raut and Milind Narvekar, were present.

The final day of campaigning saw national parties allocating major alliance leaders to support candidates in tougher battles, such as Aaditya Thackeray for Bhushan Patil (Congress) and Yogi Adityanath for Ujjwal Nikam (BJP). CM Eknath Shinde campaigned for Yamini Jadhav and Rahul Shewale, while Uddhav Thackeray campaigned for all four Shiv Sena (UBT) candidates. Stronger candidates like Piyush Goyal, Varsha Gaikwad, and Mihir Kotecha continued their campaigns without the need for additional high-profile support.