One of the most high profile contests is the battle for the South Mumbai seat, where incumbent Congress MP Milind Deora is being challenged by banker-turned politician Meera Sanyal from the Aam Aadmi Party.
In the last phase of voting in Maharashtra, 19 constituencies go to the polls including 6 seats in Mumbai, India's financial capital. In 2009, UPA allies Congress and NCP swept through the city winning all six seats. For the BJP and Shiv Sena it is now also a prestige battle to regain some lost political honour. (Read also:
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In Mumbai South, union minister Milind Deora of the Congress has three challengers: former banker Meera Sanyal of AAP, Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant and Bala Nandagaonkar of the MNS. In 2009, Ms Sanyal contested as an Independent and lost. However, Mr Deora's victory was largely because the MNS ate into the Sena votes. But observers say, the MNS does not have the same momentum and impact in 2014. (
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In Mumbai North East, in 2009 NCP MP Sanjay Patil won narrowly defeating BJP's Kirit Somaiya by just 3000 odd votes. But the Association of Democratic reforms has rated his performance of the past 5 years as the worst of Maharashtra's 48 MPs. While Mr Somaiya seems to be the favourite, social activist Medha Patkar of the AAP is the dark horse.
In the Mumbai North Central constituency it is the "daughter vs daughter" battle. Sitting MP Priya Dutt and daughter of late Congress leader Sunil Dutt is pitted against Poonam Mahajan, the daughter of late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan. Ms Dutt seems to be the frontrunner and banks heavily on the minority and slum votes. (
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In 2009 Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam defeated BJP heavy weight by just 2000 odd votes in the Mumbai North constituency. But the seat has a large Gujarati population and BJP's Gopal Shetty is counting on the "Modi-wave".
For Mumbaikars the issues remain the same: over-crowded local trains, poor city infrastructure, perennial traffic jams, mushrooming slums, encroached open spaces and unaffordable housing.
But in spite of this, Mumbaikars are lazy voters with the turnout in 2009 barely touching 41.4%, South Mumbai being among the worst. This time too, Bollywood stars have already left the city and have gone gallivanting to the US. (Read also:
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However, some others like the Bachchans, Aamir Khan, and Shah Rukh Khan will be exercising their franchise.