After visiting the Borivali Ganpati temple, Goyal also held a show of strength with a rally, before reaching the collector’s office around 1 pm. He was accompanied by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Union Minister and Republican Party of India president Ramdas Athawale, Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar and sitting BJP MP from Mumbai North Gopal Shetty.
As of now, Goyal’s is the only nomination from the Mumbai North seat, which is considered a BJP bastion. The last day for filing nominations is May 3.

The Union minister, who has been an MP in the Rajya Sabha since 2010, is contesting a Lok Sabha election for the first time and political observers feel that it will be a cake-walk for Goyal as Mumbai North is a BJP bastion with a significant presence of Gujarati and Marwadi population.

In the 2019 elections, BJP candidate Gopal Shetty had won the seat with a margin of over 4.65 lakh votes. At the Tuesday rally, Goyal was accompanied by members from the local Koli community, many of whom were dressed in the traditional Maharashtrian attire — Nauvari saree.

“During my campaigning, I developed a bond with the members from the Koli community and I believe they will bless me by electing me as their representative,” Goyal said.

After starting his rally from his new Kandivali residence, where he has been staying since the announcement of his candidature last month, Goyal held a roadshow and went to the Borivali Ganpati temple to seek blessings, from where he headed towards the collector’s office.

After visiting the Borivali Ganpati temple, Goyal also held a show of strength with a rally, before reaching the collector’s office around 1 pm (Express Photo by Sankhadeep Banerjee)

Even as his rival candidate is yet to be announced by the opposition alliance, Goyal has been campaigning extensively over the past one month, interacting with voters across Mumbai North (Dahisar to Malad).

On Sunday, Goyal did a roadshow from Borivali to Kandivali that elicited good response with workers and citizens turning up in large numbers. It also saw participation from alliance partners — Shiv Sena, NCP (Ajit Pawar), MNS and Republican Party of India.

During the rally, Goyal challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to come and contest against him from Mumbai North constituency. “I challenge Rahul Gandhi to contest the election from the Mumbai North seat. He is already losing from Wayanad from where he has filed his candidature,” Goyal said.

“He (Rahul Gandhi) should consider contesting from 4-5 seats, if by any chance he manages to win one seat… If he has the guts, he should contest from Amethi or Varanasi,” he added.

During the campaigns so far, Goyal also met traders, businessmen, and entrepreneurs, discussing government policies, new opportunities, and plans for various sectors. He also interacted with social organisations and groups, including the Kutch Youth Association and the Bengali community.