Daughters of gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli are trying their luck in the upcoming BMC civic polls in January 2026. Geeta, a corporator in 2017, and Yogeeta, making a poll debut, filed their nominations in the presence of their father, Arun Gawli, as candidates of the Akhil Bharatiya Sena (ABS). Yogeeta Gawli-Waghmare, filed her nomination from the Byculla ward number 207. Her focus is on issues like including clean water, drainage, and waste management. She wants to work to provide better education to children and empower women.

“Here in our ward, basic needs like clean water, drainage, and waste management are my main concerns. But there is much more work to be done, particularly in education, safety, and women’s employment. It feels great to see people’s response,” she told ANI.

Yogeeta added that people have regained hope, thinking that “since ‘Daddy’ is there, things will get better again”. “We need to do work that earns people’s love and trust, and makes us feel that we were truly able to help them,” she added.

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Daughters hail ‘Daddy’s’ vision

Both Geeta and her sister Yogeeta Gawli said they want to work for the development of their respective wards. Stressing to continue the work started by their father, Geeta said she plans to address the pending issues, particularly the redevelopment work for residents in her ward. She added that much work remains incomplete due to the delayed polls and insufficient funding.

“Things slowed down a bit for three years because there were no elections. There’s a lot of work to be done over the next five years that couldn’t be accomplished over the last three years. The work wasn’t being done since there were no funds. I wish to utilise funds for people’s issues, including roads, buildings (redevelopment), since there have been hurdles in development works,” Geeta Gawli told ANI.

The relations with her ward and their issues remain a top priority, she added. “Daddy started this work. Whatever I’ve done since, I’ve done under his guidance. So, I’ll continue working with his blessings. I felt good as I went with Daddy to fill out the election form. He has always maintained that people’s issues must be resolved as a priority,” Geeta said.

The Maharashtra State Election Commission announced elections to 29 municipal corporations across the state, including Mumbai, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Polling for Mumbai’s 227 wards will be held on January 15, with vote counting scheduled for January 16.

Arun Gawli and Akhil Bharatiya Sena

Arun Gawli’s Akhil Bharatiya Sena (ABS) party first made headlines during the 2002 BMC elections when its candidate, Sunil Ghate, defeated a Shiv Sena nominee in a major upset. Two years later in 2004 Maharashtra Assembly elections, party founder Arun Gawli won the Chinchpokli seat, strengthening ABS’ influence in the region.

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Arun Gawli, popularly known as ‘Daddy’, has a stronghold in Byculla region. From Mumbai’s Dagdi Chawl, he challenged Dawood Ibrahim – one of the most wanted underworld dons across the globe. Once, Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray had backed the former don, saying “if they have Dawood, we have Gawli”.

It was after the death of Jayant Jadhav — a close aide of Bal Thackeray, who was killed by Gawli’s shooters — their relation became sour.