BJP Replaces Poonam Mahajan with Ujjwal Nikam for 2024
Ujjwal Nikam becomes the BJP’s Mumbai North Central candidate for the Lok Sabha in 2024, succeeding Poonam Mahajan. In an astounding move, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reported the substitution of Poonam Mahajan as its contender for the Mumbai North Focal Lok Sabha electorate in the impending 2024 general races. Instead, the party has chosen Ujjwal Nikam, a well-known public prosecutor, to run for the seat. It was widely anticipated that the BJP would renominate Poonam Mahajan, who has held the Mumbai North Central seat since 2014. However, party sources claim that her performance and ability to connect with voters in the constituency have been criticized in recent years. “Swapping out Poonam Mahajan wasn’t an easy call, but the party believed a new candidate with deeper connections to the public was key to holding onto the seat.” a senior BJP pioneer said on state of namelessness. On the other hand, Ujjwal Nikam is an experienced lawyer who has been the public prosecutor in a number of high-profile cases, such as the Nirbhaya case, the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, and the 1993 Mumbai blasts. The BJP’s campaign in the constituency is expected to benefit from his reputation as a tough and effective prosecutor. “Ujjwal Nikam’s arrangement is a reasonable sign that the BJP needs to make the rule of law a critical board in the Mumbai North Focal electorate. His history in getting convictions in significant dread and wrongdoing cases will reverberate with the electors,” said political expert Rashmi Sharma. Poonam Mahajan, the little girl of late BJP pioneer Pramod Mahajan, has been an unmistakable face of the party in Maharashtra. She was the national president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the party’s youth wing, among other positions within the organization. However, her performance as Mumbai North Central Member of Parliament has been the subject of debate. She has been credited with initiating several infrastructure projects in the constituency, but some voters have criticized her accessibility and engagement with the community. “The BJP leadership has been worried about Poonam Mahajan’s disconnect from constituency issues, even though she has been a dedicated party worker.” According to a BJP insider, “The party felt that a change in candidate was necessary to strengthen its position in this seat.” The choice to supplant Poonam Mahajan with Ujjwal Nikam has produced a blended reaction from the political scene. The opposition parties have criticized the decision as a “desperate attempt to salvage a lost cause,” while supporters of the BJP have welcomed the move, citing Nikam’s reputation and the party’s focus on law and order. “The BJP’s decision to replace Poonam Mahajan with Ujjwal Nikam shows their struggle to connect with the people of Mumbai North Central. Aditya Thackeray, the leader of the Shiv Sena, stated, “They are now trying to win the seat by relying on a high-profile candidate rather than addressing the real issues faced by the constituents.” The BJP, on the other hand, maintains its belief that Ujjwal Nikam’s candidacy will be well received by voters and will assist the party in retaining the Mumbai North Central seat. It is anticipated that the party will focus its campaign in the constituency on Nikam’s legal expertise, the BJP’s track record of delivering infrastructure projects, and its dedication to upholding law and order. The race for the Mumbai North Central seat is likely to be closely watched as the Lok Sabha elections in 2024 get closer. The BJP’s decision to nominate Ujjwal Nikam to replace Poonam Mahajan has added a new dimension to the political landscape.
