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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Seventy-six mayors ruled BMC since 1931

After four years, Mumbai to salute its first citizen Kishori Pednekar Vishwanath Mahadeshwar Snehal Ambekar Sunil Prabhu Mumbai: As the date for appointing Mumbai’s First Citizen looms closer, various political parties have adopted tough posturing to foist their own person for the coveted post of Mayor – the ‘face’ of the country’s commercial capital. Ruling Mahayuti allies Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena have vowed that the city...

Seventy-six mayors ruled BMC since 1931

After four years, Mumbai to salute its first citizen Kishori Pednekar Vishwanath Mahadeshwar Snehal Ambekar Sunil Prabhu Mumbai: As the date for appointing Mumbai’s First Citizen looms closer, various political parties have adopted tough posturing to foist their own person for the coveted post of Mayor – the ‘face’ of the country’s commercial capital. Ruling Mahayuti allies Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena have vowed that the city will get a ‘Hindu Marathi’ person to head India’s richest civic body, while the Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT)-Maharashtra Navnirman Sena also harbour fond hopes of a miracle that could ensure their own person for the post. The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) optimism stems from expectations of possible political permutations-combinations that could develop with a realignment of forces as the Supreme Court is hearing the cases involving the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party this week. Catapulted as the largest single party, the BJP hopes to install a first ever party-man as Mayor, but that may not create history. Way back in 1982-1983, a BJP leader Dr. Prabhakar Pai had served in the top post in Mumbai (then Bombay). Incidentally, Dr. Pai hailed from Udupi district of Karnataka, and his appointment came barely a couple of years after the BJP was formed (1980), capping a distinguished career as a city father, said experts. Originally a Congressman, Dr. Pai later shifted to the Bharatiya Janata Party, then back to Congress briefly, founded the Janata Seva Sangh before immersing himself in social activities. Second Administrator The 2026 Mayoral elections have evoked huge interest not only among Mumbaikars but across the country as it comes after nearly four years since the BMC was governed by an Administrator. This was only the second time in the BMC history that an Administrator was named after April 1984-May 1985. On both occasions, there were election-related issues, the first time the elections got delayed for certain reasons and the second time the polling was put off owing to Ward delimitations and OBC quotas as the matter was pending in the courts. From 1931 till 2022, Mumbai has been lorded over by 76 Mayors, men and women, hailing from various regions, backgrounds, castes and communities. They included Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Parsis, Sikhs, even a Jew, etc., truly reflecting the cosmopolitan personality of the coastal city and India’s financial powerhouse. In 1931-1932, the Mayor was a Parsi, J. B. Boman Behram, and others from his community followed like Khurshed Framji Nariman (after whom Nariman Point is named), E. A. Bandukwala, Minoo Masani, B. N. Karanjia and other bigwigs. There were Muslims like Hoosenally Rahimtoola, Sultan M. Chinoy, the legendary Yusuf Meherally, Dr. A. U. Memon and others. The Christian community got a fair share of Mayors with Joseph A. D’Souza – who was Member of Constituent Assembly representing Bombay Province for writing-approving the Constitution of India, M. U. Mascarenhas, P. A. Dias, Simon C. Fernandes, J. Leon D’Souza, et al. A Jew Elijah Moses (1937-1938) and a Sikh M. H. Bedi (1983-1984), served as Mayors, but post-1985, for the past 40 years, nobody from any minority community occupied the august post. During the silver jubilee year of the post, Sulochana M. Modi became the first woman Mayor of Mumbai (1956), and later with tweaks in the rules, many women ruled in this post – Nirmala Samant-Prabhavalkar (1994-1995), Vishakha Raut (997-1998), Dr. Shubha Raul (March 2007-Nov. 2009), Shraddha Jadhav (Dec. 2009-March 2012), Snehal Ambedkar (Sep. 2014-March 2017). The last incumbent (before the Administrator) was a government nurse, Kishori Pednekar (Nov. 2019-March 2022) - who earned the sobriquet of ‘Florence Nightingale’ of Mumbai - as she flitted around in her full white uniform at the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic, earning the admiration of the citizens. Mumbai Mayor – high-profile post The Mumbai Mayor’s post is considered a crucial step in the political ladder and many went on to become MLAs, MPs, state-central ministers, a Lok Sabha Speaker, Chief Ministers and union ministers. The formidable S. K. Patil was Mayor (1949-1952) and later served in the union cabinets of PMs Jawaharlal Nehru, Lah Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi; Dahyabhai V. Patel (1954-1955) was the son of India’s first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel; Manohar Joshi (1976-1977) became the CM of Maharashtra, later union minister and Speaker of Lok Sabha; Chhagan Bhujbal (1985-1986 – 1990-1991) became a Deputy CM.

Ashwin: A spinner who spun narratives as well as balls

Ravichandran Ashwin, the eternal tinkerer of Indian cricket, has finally decided to hang up his IPL boots after the 2025 season. What a shocker—said no one who’s been watching his recent performances. At 39, Ashwin announced his retirement via social media, probably because he couldn’t bear another auction where teams pretend to bid on him like he’s a vintage wine that’s turned to vinegar. After 17 years of spinning webs (and occasionally getting tangled in them), he’s bowing out with 221 matches under his belt, 187 wickets at an average of 30.23, and an economy rate of 7.20 that screams “reliable, but not exactly Lasith Malinga territory.” But hey, let’s not dwell on the numbers; let’s celebrate the man who turned the IPL into his personal laboratory for experiments that sometimes worked, sometimes exploded spectacularly.


Let’s start with the highs, because every opinion piece needs a sugar rush before the diabetic coma sets in. Ashwin’s best IPL moments? Oh, where to begin with this wizard of off-spin. Remember his 4/34 against whoever-it-was—probably some hapless batsmen who thought they could dance down the track without consequences. That spell is etched in IPL lore as one of his top bowling efforts, where he turned the ball like it owed him money. And batting? The man once smashed a 50 for Rajasthan Royals against Delhi Capitals in 2022, proving he’s not just a bowler who occasionally holds a bat—he’s a bowler who occasionally pretends to be a batsman. His all-round prowess helped Chennai Super Kings win titles twice, back when MS Dhoni was still whispering sweet nothings to spinners. Ashwin was a pioneer, a trendsetter, innovating with carrom balls and arm balls that left batsmen looking like they’d seen a ghost. In his prime, he was the guy you wanted in death overs, not because he’d take five wickets, but because he’d make the opposition rethink their life choices. Kudos, Ash; you made spin sexy in a league obsessed with sixes. Or at least, tolerable.


But ah, the controversies—the spice that made Ashwin the IPL’s resident drama king. Who could forget the 2019 Mankading of Jos Buttler? There he was, mid-delivery stride, spotting Buttler wandering out of his crease like a tourist lost in Jaipur traffic, and bam! Run-out without bowling the ball. Spirit of cricket? Pfft, Ashwin called it “instinct,” while the world erupted in faux outrage. Critics screamed “unsportsmanlike,” but let’s be real: if Buttler can’t stay in his crease, maybe he should try gardening instead. Then there’s the 2022 “retired out” fiasco against Lucknow Super Giants, where Ashwin tactically benched himself mid-innings, becoming the first IPL player to do so. Innovative? Sure. But it felt like quitting a bad date halfway through—classy, or just cowardly? Oh, and his YouTube channel antics! Posting videos dissecting CSK’s strategies, criticizing teammates like Noor Ahmad, and stirring pots like a celebrity chef. Last season, he even dragged Dewald Brevis into a price-tag row, questioning Mumbai Indians’ splurge on the kid while ignoring his own waning form. The man collected controversies like kids collect Pokémon cards: obsessively and with zero regrets.


Now, for the failures, because balance is key, and sarcasm demands we roast the lows. Ashwin’s IPL journey wasn’t all carrom-ball glory; there were seasons where he bowled like he’d forgotten his glasses at home. Take 2025, his much-hyped return to CSK for a cool ₹9.75 crore. What did we get? Five wickets in six matches, an average that could double as a highway speed limit, and Dhoni himself admitting the team’s bowling woes. Ashwin looked lost, handing out runs like free samples at a mall. Critics piled on, calling his performances “safe” but ineffective, as CSK tumbled down the table. Remember those Powerplay battles he lamented back in 2019 with Kings XI Punjab? Yeah, his team lost most games there, thanks in part to overseas pacers flopping and Ashwin’s inability to stem the flow. Injuries didn’t help, nor did his occasional brain fades, like failing to adapt outside subcontinental pitches in international cricket, which bled into IPL inconsistencies. And let’s chuckle at his fan-trolling episode in 2025, where he begged CSK supporters to “learn from loyal RCB fans” amid the team’s slump. Bold move, Ash—alienating your own base while underperforming. In Rajasthan Royals’ 2025 underperformance saga, he was part of the tactical misfires that saw them flounder, proving even legends can turn into liabilities when age catches up.


In the end, Ashwin’s IPL retirement feels like the merciful end to a long-running sitcom.


(The Writer is a senior journalist based in Mumbai. Views personal.)

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