Dharavi is in the spotlight as its vote bank is crucial for both sides, the MVA as well as Mahayuti. The area is part of the Mumbai South Central Lok Sabha constituency and its redevelopment and relocation of people living there will not only affect candidates of the constituency but are also crucial in defining the future of candidates of the North East parliamentary constituency where the government was planning to shift the people from Dharavi. The government plans to relocate Dharavi locals to Mulund. But what do the residents of Dharavi want? mid-day finds out.

Though the roads are now of cement concrete and facilities like water and electricity have improved over the decades, the small, filthy gullies of Dharavi—comprising slum settlements as well as hundreds of small-scale industry units—are still the same. People are eager for redevelopment as they are deprived of basic facilities like toilets in their homes. But at the same time, they do not want to leave Dharavi.