NEW DELHI: BJP corporator Ritu Tawde is ready to change into Mumbai’s subsequent mayor after being elected unopposed, marking the social gathering’s return to the put up after 44 years and ending the Shiv Sena’s uninterrupted 25-year maintain over the Brihanmumbai Municipal Company (BMC).The competition turned uncontested after the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) determined to not discipline a challenger in opposition to Tawde, successfully clearing her path to the mayor’s workplace. Although the mayor’s function is essentially ceremonial, it carries sturdy political and symbolic significance in Mumbai’s identity-driven civic politics.Tawde’s elevation would be the BJP’s first mayoral win in Mumbai since Prabhakar Pai’s tenure in 1982–83. It additionally means the undivided Shiv Sena, which managed the BMC from 1997 to 2022, won’t maintain the mayor’s put up after practically three many years.
On the ultimate day of nominations, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, a BJP ally within the ruling Mahayuti, nominated Sanjay Ghadi as its candidate for deputy mayor. The social gathering introduced that the deputy mayor’s tenure could be cut up, permitting a number of corporators to serve throughout the time period.A senior BMC official informed PTI that just one nomination every was obtained for the mayor’s and deputy mayor’s posts earlier than the 6 pm deadline. “We have now obtained only one nomination from BJP’s Ritu Tawde for the mayor’s put up and one other from Sanjay Ghadi for the deputy mayor’s put up,” the official stated.Though opposition events haven’t filed nominations, the election course of will likely be formally accomplished on February 11, which can also be the final day for withdrawal of nominations. The mayor’s put up has been reserved for a girl candidate from the open class following a draw of heaps by the City Growth Division.Tawde (53), a corporator from Ghatkopar East, filed her nomination on the municipal secretary’s workplace within the presence of senior Mahayuti leaders, together with minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha and BJP Mumbai unit chief Ameet Satam.Chatting with reporters, she stated a safer and extra developed Mumbai was her precedence and that she needed to work for residents of the cosmopolitan metropolis.The Shiv Sena (UBT) was anticipated to problem the BJP nominee however determined in opposition to it after a gathering at social gathering chief Uddhav Thackeray’s residence. Former Mumbai mayor and Sena (UBT) chief Kishori Pednekar stated the choice mirrored respect for Marathi id.“The BJP needed to settle for that Marathi manoos is a Hindu. If the mayor of Mumbai is Marathi manoos, we received’t do something that quantities to a nasty omen. We have now accepted the arithmetic and can play the function of a robust opposition and struggle for Mumbai,” Pednekar stated.The Sena (UBT) had raised the Marathi id plank in final month’s BMC elections, the place it contested in alliance with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). The BJP emerged as the only largest social gathering with 89 seats within the 227-member civic physique. The ruling Mahayuti alliance, with a mixed energy of 118 corporators, comfortably crossed the midway mark of 114.Addressing a press convention earlier within the day, BJP’s Satam stated that town was set to get a BJP mayor after 4 many years. “We have now the backing of 118 corporators and the help of extra members. The Mahayuti will work to free the BMC from the clutches of corruption,” he stated.Satam additionally stated that the alliance had asserted from the start that Mumbai’s mayor could be Marathi and Hindu. “Town will now get a Marathi, Malvani, Konkani and Hindu mayor,” he added.Reacting sharply, the NCP (SP) criticised the BJP’s selection, saying deciding on a former Congress chief as mayor had demoralised social gathering loyalists. NCP (SP) spokesperson Clyde Crasto stated, “By selecting a former Congresswoman as mayor, the BJP has insulted its personal loyal corporators who’ve given their blood, sweat and tears for the social gathering.”Tawde, who joined the BJP in 2012 after quitting the Congress, was elected as a corporator the identical yr. Throughout her first time period, she chaired the BMC’s Training Committee and raised points associated to infrastructure, water provide and public security. She was additionally within the highlight for elevating objections to mannequins displaying objectionable clothes in outlets.Ghadi, a corporator from Ward No. 5 who defected from Sena (UBT) to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, will function deputy mayor for 15 months, social gathering secretary Sanjay Extra stated.The BMC, India’s richest civic physique, has been beneath a state-appointed administrator since March 2022 following the tip of the earlier time period. Its finances for 2025–26 stands at Rs 74,450 crore, increased than that of a number of Indian states.
