After 44 Years, BJP returns to Mumbai mayor’s office: Ritu Tawde set to be elected unopposed; end of Thackeray era in BMC | India News – The Times of India

Sanjay Ghadi and Ritu Tawde (PTI picture)

NEW DELHI: BJP corporator Ritu Tawde is set to turn into Mumbai’s subsequent mayor after being elected unopposed, marking the occasion’s return to the submit after 44 years and ending the Shiv Sena’s uninterrupted 25-12 months maintain over the Brihanmumbai Municipal Company (BMC).The contest turned uncontested after the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) determined not to area a challenger towards Tawde, successfully clearing her path to the mayor’s workplace. Although the mayor’s function is basically ceremonial, it carries sturdy political and symbolic significance in Mumbai’s identification-pushed civic politics.Tawde’s elevation will 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 submit after almost three many years.On the ultimate day of nominations, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, a BJP ally in the ruling Mahayuti, nominated Sanjay Ghadi as its candidate for deputy mayor. The occasion introduced that the deputy mayor’s tenure would be cut up, permitting a number of corporators to serve in the course of the time period.A senior BMC official advised PTI that just one nomination every was acquired for the mayor’s and deputy mayor’s posts earlier than the 6 pm deadline. “We’ve got acquired only one nomination from BJP’s Ritu Tawde for the mayor’s submit and one other from Sanjay Ghadi for the deputy mayor’s submit,” the official stated.Though opposition events haven’t filed nominations, the election course of will be formally accomplished on February 11, which can also be the final day for withdrawal of nominations. The mayor’s submit has been reserved for a lady 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 in the presence of senior Mahayuti leaders, together with minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha and BJP Mumbai unit chief Ameet Satam. Talking to 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 towards it after a gathering at occasion chief Uddhav Thackeray’s residence. Former Mumbai mayor and Sena (UBT) chief Kishori Pednekar stated the choice mirrored respect for Marathi identification.“The BJP had to settle for that Marathi manoos is a Hindu. If the mayor of Mumbai is Marathi manoos, we gained’t do something that quantities to a foul omen. We’ve got 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 identification plank in final month’s BMC elections, the place it contested in alliance with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). The BJP emerged as the one largest occasion with 89 seats in the 227-member civic physique. The ruling Mahayuti alliance, with a mixed power of 118 corporators, comfortably crossed the midway mark of 114.Addressing a press convention earlier in the day, BJP’s Satam stated that the town was set to get a BJP mayor after 4 many years. “We’ve got the backing of 118 corporators and the assist 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 would be Marathi and Hindu. “The metropolis will now get a Marathi, Malvani, Konkani and Hindu mayor,” he added.Reacting sharply, the NCP (SP) criticised the BJP’s selection, saying choosing a former Congress chief as mayor had demoralised occasion 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 occasion.”Tawde, who joined the BJP in 2012 after quitting the Congress, was elected as a corporator the identical 12 months. Throughout her first time period, she chaired the BMC’s Schooling Committee and raised points associated to infrastructure, water provide and public security. She was additionally in 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, occasion secretary Sanjay Extra stated.The BMC, India’s richest civic physique, has been beneath a state-appointed administrator since March 2022 following the end of the earlier time period. Its price range for 2025–26 stands at Rs 74,450 crore, increased than that of a number of Indian states.