The prolonged suspense surrounding the leadership of Mumbai’s civic body was finally brought to an end with the announcement of candidates by the ruling Mahayuti alliance. It was confirmed that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Ritu Tawde has been nominated for the post of mayor of Mumbai, while the Shiv Sena has selected Sanjay Shankar Ghadi as its candidate for deputy mayor. The decision marked the conclusion of weeks of political negotiations and speculation following the civic elections.
Municipal elections for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, along with 28 other civic bodies across Maharashtra, were held on January 15. The results placed the BJP as the single largest party in the BMC, with 89 seats secured. The Shiv Sena, led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, won 29 seats. Together, the alliance crossed the halfway mark of 144 seats required to form the ruling body, ensuring numerical control of the corporation.
Despite the majority, political stability was not immediately assured. Concerns were raised over the possibility of last-minute defections, prompting heightened caution within the alliance. These fears were reinforced when corporators from the Shiv Sena were moved to a hotel in Bandra shortly after the election results were declared, a move that triggered widespread speculation about internal vulnerabilities and shifting loyalties.
Further uncertainty was introduced by the mayoral reservation process. On January 22, a lottery was conducted to determine eligibility for mayoral posts across civic bodies. It was announced that Mumbai would have a woman mayor from the General category. Similar outcomes were declared for Pune, Dhule, Nanded-Waghala, and Navi Mumbai, all of which were allotted women mayors from the same category. The reservation decision played a crucial role in shaping the final leadership structure within the alliance.
Political tensions continued to escalate in the interim period, with alliances remaining fluid across the state. Support extended by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena to the Shiv Sena in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation was seen as a significant development, adding to the unease within rival camps. Simultaneously, accusations were exchanged between the BJP and the Congress, with both parties alleging attempts to approach and influence corporators from opposing sides.
Ultimately, consolidation within the Mahayuti alliance was achieved, allowing for the formal declaration of candidates and bringing clarity to Mumbai’s civic leadership.