Piyush Goyal For North Mumbai: High-Profile Minister's Poll Debut At Sure-Shot BJP Win Seat (image: twitter.com/PiyushGoyal)North Mumbai is one of the biggest Lok Sabha constituencies, and the BJP counts it as one of its strongholds. The party has chosen one of the safest parliamentary seats for Union Minister Piyush Goyal since it marks his electoral debut at the Lok Sabha polls.
In a political career spanning over three decades, Piyush Goyal has never contested Lok Sabha or State Assembly elections. In 2010, Goyal got elected as a BJP candidate for the Rajya Sabha and was appointed again in 2016 and 2022.
During the Modi government‘s term from 2014 to 2024, Piyush Goyal handled several portfolios as a minister, including Minister of State (independent); Minister of Mines (independent); Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs; Minister of Coal; Minister of Railways; Minister of Commerce and Industry; and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution. He is currently serving as the Deputy Leader of the Rajya Sabha as well.
One of the high-profile ministers in the cabinet, the reforms and initiatives introduced by Piyush Goyal have been noteworthy. Some of his key contributions include launching Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), the world’s largest food security programme; the ‘Ujala’ project, the world’s largest LED bulb distribution programme; the signing of a’fastest-ever’ free-trade agreement (FTA) with the UAE; and the implementation of production-linked incentive measures to accelerate the ‘Make In India’ programme. Piyush Goyal’s deft and astute decisions as a minister and as a party leader are held in high regard.
Even though Piyush Goyal comes from a background in chartered accounting and law, politics is not a new territory for him. His mother, Chandrakanta Goyal, was a three-time BJP legislator from Maharashtra’s Matunga. His father, Ved Prakash Goyal, served as the national treasurer of the party for close to two decades and also as the minister of shipping in the Vajpayee government from 2001 to 2003. Following in his father’s footsteps, Piyush Goyal has also served as the BJP’s national treasure.
When Modi contested as prime ministerial candidate for the first time, Piyush Goyal headed the party’s information and communication campaign committee. He played a pivotal role in building ‘brand Modi’. He has closely worked with PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, and as a strategist and skilled negotiator, he is considered a ‘go-to’ person in the party and in the government.
North Mumbai is dominated by Gujarati and North Indian voters, which secures a comfortable win for the BJP. In the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls, veteran BJP leader Gopal Shetty won from the constituency.