As mayoral elections get underway across Maharashtra’s 29 municipal corporations, Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has emerged as the major political battle. The ruling BJP is moving closer to naming its choice for the country’s richest civic body. While mayoral nominations and elections have started in cities across Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Vidarbha, the focus is on who will lead Mumbai next, especially after it was decided through a reservation lottery that the city will get a woman mayor from the general category.
Within the BJP, discussions are going on to finalise a candidate who can take control of the civic body at a time of heightened political competition in the state capital. As per a report by the Indian Express, two corporators, namely Sheetal Gambhir Desai and Ritu Tawde, have emerged as the main frontrunners.
Who is Sheetal Gambhir Desai?
Sheetal Gambhir Desai is a corporator from Ward 190 in Mahim, Dadar. This area is considered a stronghold of the Shiv Sena (UBT) with a notable amount of Marathi-speaking population. She is the daughter of former Shiv Sena MLA Suresh Gambhir and is currently head of the Mumbai women’s wing. At a rally at Shivaji Park, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis publicly described her as someone capable of taking on Shiva Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray in debates on civic issues. The party views Desai as articulate and knowledgeable about city-level governance. While responding to public responsibility, she has stated, “To retain people’s trust we should not fail in our duty,” as quoted by The Indian Express.
Who is Ritu Tawde?
Ritu Tawde is a second-term corporator from Ward 132 in Ghatkopar and is known within the party for her ability to engage with citizens while managing civic issues. Despite being from the Maratha community, she won a ward that is dominated by Gujarati voters, a factor leaders cite as proof of her accessibility and local link. As per BJP leaders, she is active at the grassroots level and comfortable dealing with public issues.
When is the BMC mayor election likely?
The BMC mayoral election is unlikely before the second week of February. The reason behind this is that corporators from the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena are yet to complete mandatory registration with the Konkan divisional commissioner, as per a report by The Times of India.
Civic officials have stated that once registration is completed, a minimum of seven days’ period is required before a special meeting can be conducted to elect the mayor and deputy mayor. Smaller parties like MNS, Samajwadi Party, and both factions of the NCP will not get nominated members because of their limited seat count.
As the Mumbai mayoral elections have started across Maharashtra, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena has secured mayoral posts in crucial MMR civic bodies like Kalyan-Dombivili, Thane, and Ulhasnagar, while sharing the deputy mayor post with the BJP.