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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.

Drugs, Demolitions and Development Dilemmas

Updated: Nov 18, 2024

Nashik

In the countdown to the November 20 Assembly polls, Nashik, a city once epitomizing tranquillity and spirituality, its revered religious ties to the Ramayana, is now embroiled in a contentious election season. Known as the ‘cultural heart’ of North Maharashtra, the Assembly segments in Nashik are caught up in controversial flashpoints, namely a surging drug menace, a bitter political feud between two former allies, and a high-profile demolition.


The drug problem first cast a shadow over Nashik last year, when Mumbai Police uncovered a massive operation led by Lalit Patil, a local businessman, involving mephedrone worth over Rs 300 crore. This discovery - which followed a long trail across vital Maharashtra cities including Pune - has since triggered a wave of concern, particularly in the Nashik Central Assembly seat, where rising drug abuse among youth and even children has become an alarming reality.


BJP MLA Devyani Pharande, seeking re-election as the ruling Mahayuti’s candidate, has positioned herself as an advocate for curbing the menace, while her rival, Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Vasant Gite, has accused her of complicity, alleging that she used her political clout to shield drug peddlers.


While Pharande vehemently denies these allegations, the drug issue has resonated deeply with voters. This already charged atmosphere took another twist with the demolition of Gite’s office, which was razed by authorities soon after the Shiv Sena (UBT) took a slim lead in the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year.


Gite, once the mainstay of Raj Thackeray’s MNS in Nashik, claims the demolition was orchestrated by Pharande and the BJP, accusing her of using her political power to target him. In return, Pharande has hit back at Gite for his alleged involvement in illegal alcohol sales from his office. The escalating tensions between the two have made the contest here not just about governance, but about personal rivalries and vendettas.


Gite, who once served as Mayor under Shiv Sena, has significant support within the minority community, having previously won elections unopposed from a Muslim-majority ward. Pharande, on the other hand, relies on the organizational strength of the BJP and her connections to the electorate through her tenure as Deputy Mayor of the Nashik Municipal Corporation.


The underlying issues of urban development and infrastructure remain a key concern. In the Nashik West Assembly segment, home to two major industrial estates, the lack of progress on infrastructure, particularly roads and drainage, has stunted economic growth. Despite promises from both the state and central BJP governments to develop the region, industries are struggling to survive.


The constituency is shaping up to be a tight race between the incumbent BJP MLA Seema Hiray, her challenger Dinkar Patil from MNS and the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sudhakar Badgujar, who is the MVA candidate.


Hiray is facing significant criticism for her failure to address these infrastructural challenges, despite having served two terms in office.


In this context, the MNS led by Raj Thackeray, is attempting to regain Nashik with its manifesto proposing its ‘Nashik model of development’ as the party once held the trump card in the Nashik Municipal Corporation.


With promises ranging from decentralization of industries to the creation of affordable housing and new recreational spaces, the MNS aims to present a fresh alternative to the existing political leadership.


As the countdown to Election Day accelerates, the looming question for voters is whether any candidate can rise above the noise of personal vendettas and factionalism to address the real challenges facing this once-peaceful city.

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