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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.

Does third front matter?

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

Does third front matter?

Mumbai: As the governing Mahayuti and the challenger Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) prepare for the pivotal state legislative elections, smaller groups are readying to disrupt the balance. At least a dozen factions, each with significant support within the state, have declared their intentions to run independently or to unite in forming a third alliance.


Raj Thackeray, the leader of the MNS, was the first to reveal his slate of candidates, including Bala Nandgaonkar from Shivadi, a well-established base of the Shiv Sena in Central Mumbai.


The third alliance, Parivartan Mahashakti, after its initial strategy session on Thursday, has set its sights on contesting in 150 seats and has pledged to oppose the incumbent chief minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy, Devendra Fadnavis. The alliance has also sought the support of Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil. This coalition is made up of groups led by former Rajya Sabha member Sambhaji Raje Chhatrapati, leader of the farmers’ movement Raju Shetti, and MLA Bachchu Kadu.


Bachchu Kadu poses a threat to the Mahayuti candidates in Amrawati and the surrounding areas. Meanwhile, Raju Shetti and Sambhaji Raje Chhatrapati have a strong presence in Western Maharashtra, where they could undermine the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi’s standing.


The formation of this coalition started over two months prior. At first, leaders and advocates for agricultural matters, including Shetty, Bharat Rashtra Samiti’s Shankar Dhondge, and Wamanrao Chatap, gathered to talk about the potential for a partnership. Subsequently, Kadu and Sambhaji Raje Chhatrapati entered the discussion. Shetty also had a meeting with Prakash Ambedkar, who is yet to become a part of the coalition.


Kadu, who had been associated with the saffron Mahayuti alliance recently, mentioned that he had cautioned the Shinde administration about abandoning the coalition if they did not meet his party’s requests. Bachchu Kadu held a protest in Sambhaji Nagar in August and presented 18 demands. “Our platform will concentrate on the welfare of farmers and agricultural workers, and we will address issues such as educational disparities, healthcare access, and industrial growth,” Bachchu Kadu said.


The future outcome is uncertain regarding whether Ambedkar or Jarange Patil will align with the new third front. Should they do so, Maharashtra might find itself in a situation where no single party secures a majority in the assembly. If more parties decide to be a part of this third front, it will negatively impact Mahayuti and MVA.

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