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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.

Bhujbal trying hard for guardianship

Mumbai: Veteran NCP leader and former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal after being inducted as Cabinet Minister under CM Devendra Fadnavis lasy week, has started pushing hard for the post of the guardian minister of the Nashik district. While the Shiv Sena had earlier staked claim for the post, the BJP is unlikely to let it go and keep the post with itself now.


With Bhujbal’s induction, Nashik now has four ministers in the Maharashtra cabinet — Dada Bhuse of the Shiv Sena under DCM Eknath Shinde and Manikrao Kokate, Narhari Zirwal and Bhujbal from the NCP under DCM Ajit Pawar. While Shiv Sena’s Bhuse, and NCP’s Kokate had been eyeing the position of guardian minister till now, BJP’s Girish Mahajan was considered to be the de-facto guardian minister of the district. Mahajan is considered close to Fadnavis and during the previous tenure of Fadnavis he was guardian minister of the district. Also, after the initial spat over the post of guardian minister, Fadnavis has kept the district with himself. Hence, it was being considered that Mahajan would be the guardian minister.


However, Bhujbal’s return to the cabinet has changed the dynamics. Especially given his seniority, experience, strong base in Nashik and tendency to achieve political goals, he may be the natural contender for the position is it is to go to the NCP. Bhujbal himself too appears to be keen on getting the post. That is the reason why many posters and hoardings are seen put up in Nashik by many of his supporters stating that his appointment as the guardian minister of the district is now merely a formality.


Meanwhile, appointment of Mahajan as the guardian minister of the district had reportedly been put on hold after Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena expressed displeasure, insisting on their claim to the post. However, senior BJP ministers, on condition of anonymity, have said that the BJP is likely to keep the post to itself, meaning Mahajan would eventually be the guardian minister of the district.


Kokate, who was once considered to be a serious contender of the post, lost the lead after he was sentenced by a local court in an over two-decade old case. He, however, is dead against Bhujbal getting the post. Though he is making statements apparently in support of Bhujbal, his close associates say that his stark differences with Bhujbal would make him accept minister from any other party as the guardian minister of the district.


Bhujbal’s supporters say that he has been inducted into the cabinet in order to consolidate OBC support in regions like Marathwada, Nashik, and Ahilya Nagar ahead of upcoming local body elections. After Dhananjay Munde’s resignation, the NCP lacked a major and aggressive OBC face. After consultations with the core leadership, Ajit Pawar took the strategic decision to bring Bhujbal back. However, sources also indicate that Bhujbal might be assigned as Guardian Minister of Beed, to avoid escalating the ongoing tussle over Nashik’s portfolio between the BJP and Shiv Sena.


Bhujbal’s opponents also point at the sharp criticism from Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who accused Ajit Pawar of promoting caste-based politics through Bhujbal’s inclusion. It is being interpreted as the wrath of Maratha community against Bhujbal. Demographically Nashik is among the few districts dominated by Maratha community and hence, the government is unlikely to take the risk of elevating Bhujbal as the guardian minister of this district.


Also, considering the local politics going into the NCP’s hands, the BJP is unlikely accept Bhujbal as the guardian minister.


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