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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.

Cabinet sub-committee for funds allocation

Mumbai: After the formation of 'Maha InvIT', a trust to attract investment in the mega infrastructure projects, a cabinet sub-committee has been formed to ensure hassle-free funds allocation to MLAs and thereby keep the power equations within Mahayuti balanced.


The cabinet sub-committee is expected to decide upon funds to be allocated to MLAs for carrying out works in their respective constituencies like the repairing of roads, street lighting and gardens on public places.


Deputy CM Ajit Pawar will be heading the committee, with industries minister Uday Samant, revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, rural development and water supply minister Jaukumar Gore, school education minister Dadaji Bhuse and sports and youth welfare minister Sanjay Bansod

are the members of the committee.


During MVA tenure the Shiv Sena MLAs were particularly upset with Ajit Pawar because they were never allocated enough funds even as their counterparts in NCP always got whatever they needed. The condition was better even when the NCP joined Mahayuti three years ago as Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde was heading the government back then. However, after the change of guards last December the Shiv Sena camp had been in utter disease. The sub-committee is formed in order to do away with the disease, said a senior official.


According to him, the decision means equanimous distribution of power. This decision would do away with any apprehensions anybody in power might have while assuring them justice in crucial issues like funds allocation for local works.


Curtailing powers

The decision to form Maha InvIT was being seen as infringement into the rights of the ministers handling departments like the PWD, MSRDC and urban development. It was being interpreted that the decision would adversely affect prospects of DCM Eknath Shinde. However, officials from his office perceive this as yet another opportunity to build conduits to take the benefits of power to loyal party workers.


New trust or an organization like this would mean appointment of more men to run it. When one is working as a government department there are several reatrictions to that need to be tackled. However, whenever the same work is allocated to a state owned corporation or an SPV or any similar body, the parameters change and those in charge of it get more powers to spend funds at their will. Hence, formation of Maha InvIT means a favour to Shinde, the officer explained.


However, a senior official said that decision would mean stricter financial management and would in turn mean less opportunity for corruption or in other words spend money at will. Financial discipline will have to be maintained if one has to attract more and bigger investors, the officer said stating that the decision to form Maha InvIT will mean better discipline.


"The CM did not leave any opportunity to show how he and his departments performed well. This report card brings the ‘cold war’ among the three ruling parties to the forefront, and also indicates that Fadnavis holds the upper hand."

Harshwardhan Sapkal, Chief, Maharashtra Congress

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