BJP set to install woman Mayor in Mumbai; Race heats up with 6 names in fray

Mumbai: The BJP will get its second-ever Mayor in Mumbai on 11 February. However, there are half a dozen names that are doing rounds.

As per the draws conducted by Maharashtra government’s Urban Development Department, the post of Mayor for BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)  has been reserved for women from general category. 

The BMC has fixed 6 February for filing of nominations and elections are scheduled for 11 February. 

In the 227-member House, where the magic figure is 114, the BJP has emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats. Its ally, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, won 29 seats, taking the Maha Yuti tally to 118, while Ajit Pawar’s NCP secured three seats.

On the Opposition side, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) won 65 seats. Its allies — the Raj Thackeray-led MNS (six) and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) (one) — take the Opposition bloc’s strength to 72. The Congress, which contested independently, won 24 seats.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who calls the shots for the BJP and Shinde, the chief leader of Shiv Sena, have held a series of meetings ahead of the elections. 

Since BJP commands larger numbers, the post of Mayor will be contested by the national saffron party. 

From the BJP, the frontrunners are Sheetal Gambhir-Desai, Ritu Tawde, Tejasvee Ghosalkar, Alka Kerkar, Rajashree Shirvadkar, Asha Marathe and Harshita Narwekar.

It may be recalled, on 8 February, 2024, Tejasvee’s husband and former Abhishek Ghosalkar was killed in a sensational fatal shootout involving Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Abhishek Ghosalkar and local businessman-philanthropist Mauris Noronha alias Mauris Bhai, who later died by suicide, in the Borivli-Dahisar area of Mumbai.  Abhishek Ghosalkar’s father Vinod Ghosalkar, is a former Shiv Sena MLA from Dahisar in Mumbai and the family is considered  the Thackerays. 

Sheetal Desai is the daughter of former Shiv Sena MLA Suresh Gambhir. She won from Ward 190 in Mahim-Dadar, which is considered a Shiv Sena (UBT) stronghold with a large Marathi population.

Ritu Tawde is a two-time corporator from Ghatkopar who joined the BJP from the Congress in 2012. Hailing from the Maratha community, she won the polls from Ward 132 in Ghatkopar, a Gujarati dominated locality. 

Harshita Narwekar  is sister-in-law of  Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar. In fact, the Narwekar family has contested three seats and won all three. Narwekar’s family has contested three seats from the A Ward of Mumbai, considered a prestigious ward in the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).  Narwekar’s brother Makarand Narwekar won the elections from Ward No 226 which include parts of the elite Cuffe Parade area, while his sister-in-law Harshita Narwekar won from Ward No 225, which include the iconic Fort area of Mumbai. Narwekar’s cousin Gauri Narwekar won from Ward No 227, which includes part of the Colaba area, one of the most happening places of the town.

Alka Kerkar is a four-time Corporator and has previously served as Deputy Mayor of Mumbai. She is known for her outreach skills and ground networking. 

Asha Marathe is a three-time corporator from Ward 152. She is the district president of the South Mumbai Women’s Wing of the BJP and has considerable experience. 

Rajashree Shirvadkar is known for her experience in the corporation matters and her ground support.