Eknath Shinde's Toll Exemption: A Strategic Move to Win Mumbai’s Middle Class

As Maharashtra prepares for its Assembly elections, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced a toll waiver for light vehicles at Mumbai’s key entry points. This move appears to be an election strategy aimed at winning over middle-class voters from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), including areas like Thane and Raigad. The toll booths have long been criticized for causing traffic delays, fuel wastage, and increased commuter expenses.

The Mahayuti government, composed of the BJP, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction, aims to counter the influence of Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction, especially in MMR constituencies where the Thackeray camp holds significant sway. In past elections, the Uddhav faction, along with its MVA allies, performed well, and this toll waiver could be a direct attempt to sway voters from this camp.

Interestingly, Raj Thackeray's MNS, a vocal critic of tolls, has supported this decision. The MNS’s decision to contest the upcoming elections independently is seen as a potential spoiler for the Uddhav Sena, and this toll waiver may help the ruling alliance gain an edge in contested seats. Additionally, the toll exemption follows several welfare schemes targeted at the lower-income groups, and this move aims to regain trust from the middle-class voters ahead of the polls.