From Lalbaugcha Raja to Andhericha Raja: Ganeshotsav offers political stage ahead of Maharashtra civic polls

Declared the state festival, Ganeshotsav will see leaders from across parties fan out to mandals and homes, using the 10-day celebrations to connect with voters before elections to 29 corporations, including the BMC.

Mumbai: Ganeshotsav - declared Maharashtra’s ‘state festival’ - is set to provide an occasion for political parties to begin outreach ahead of the municipal elections, when more than 60 per cent of the state’s population will vote.

There is no official count of Ganesh idols in the state, but estimates put the number of immersions at 10 to 12 lakh annually. In the Mumbai Metropolitan Region alone, over five lakh idols are expected to be installed at homes, housing complexes and public venues by mandals and associations.

The public celebration of the festival began in Pune and Mumbai in 1893, initiated by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak to promote social unity during the freedom movement. In 2024, Ganeshotsav took place just before the Maharashtra Assembly elections.

This year’s festival comes ahead of the municipal body polls covering 29 corporations — including Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nagpur and Amravati — along with 257 municipal councils, 26 zilla parishads and 289 panchayat samitis. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election will attract particular attention given its size and resources.

Political analyst Prakash Akolkar said parties began linking with Ganeshotsav in the 1980s. “In Mumbai, the Shiv Sena started engaging with mandals during that period. In the 1990s, the BJP promoted Navratri and dandiya. Today, leaders from all parties visit Ganesh mandals,” he said.

Ajit Joshi, senior journalist and civic affairs writer, said: “It is customary for political leaders — MPs, MLAs, corporators and others — to visit pandals during the festival. This also enables direct contact with people.”

In Mumbai, prominent mandals that attract political leaders include Lalbaugcha Raja, Ganesh Gully, Tejukaya Mandal, GSB Seva Mandal in Matunga, GSB Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samiti in Wadala, Khetwadi 11th and 12th Lane, Sahyadri Mandal in Chembur, Shri Bal Gopal Mandal in Marine Lines, Fort Vibhag Mandal and Andhericha Raja in Andheri.

Posters of leaders from the ruling Maha Yuti (BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP) and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-UBT and Sharad Pawar-led NCP-SP) are visible around major mandals.

Leaders typically follow tight schedules during the festival, covering several mandals each day and performing rituals. Central ministers, chief ministers and leaders from other states also visit Mumbai mandals during the period.

Political analyst Dinesh Sadh said several Ganesh mandal functionaries have gone on to hold elected office. “Leaders not only visit public mandals but also housing societies and the homes of supporters, party workers and local business figures,” he said.