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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.

EPIC Cards, SIR, and the Fight for Accurate Electoral Rolls

Voter turnout has consistently been low, around 60–65 per cent in both Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly elections, and may drop further due to alleged multiple voting. This means, on average, 35–40 per cent of eligible voters do not cast their votes.


Currently, these apprehensions have been reported to the Election Commission and the Supreme Court of India, while the mandatory Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s Electoral Rolls is underway. The Election Commission has yet to complete the process and finalise the declaration, and soon the SIR will begin in other states.


A comprehensive review should be undertaken to address apprehensions by revamping the process and procedures enrolment and management of voters. The Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) must be recognised as a true document of nationality, and all citizens should treat it with due seriousness.


However, the voting percentage would increase if the updating of the voters' list were carried out after discrepancies removal, and before the elections are declared. A precise check on the facts and correctness of the voters' list is also required immediately after the elections are over. This post-election updated list could be made available as a reference list for the next elections for Panchayats, Nagar Palika, the Legislative Assembly, and the Lok Sabha.


The EPIC Cards should also have an expiry date (10 years), as in the case of passports and driving licences, to fix the responsibility of voter registration on the Election Commission and the individual voter.


This interactive procedure will be useful in updating the voters’ list automatically to a large extent. As it is related to the 'Right to Vote' for the 'citizens' only, this action is a must to maintain solemnity and earnestness.


The updated EPIC should be the first, essential, and compulsory document for issuing any other documents required for permits and licences. This will promote voter registration and updating automatically.


A major shortfall is due to no-shows on election days. This may be a shortfall due to alleged fake voters that cause overcounting of voters in the lists. The reason for the no-show of genuine voters is also a matter of concern and can add to the fake voting, as alleged.


In the current scenario, in Bihar State, the major attention is being drawn to the removal of 65 lakh voters (22 L dead, 36 L permanently migrated outside Bihar, and 7 L names were found included in the voters list for multiple constituencies) under various categories and circumstances as laid down in the procedures following the SIR methods.


This type of issue, therefore, falls under the overnumbering of voter lists. Such issues need to be addressed immediately by updating the voters' list after the elections are over, as a continuous process for ensuring correctness with reasons.


Irregularities due to non-citizens need to be checked by birth certificates and/or by the date of birth, as verified in the educational records of primary to high school levels.


Other documents subsequently released for personal identity (Aadhar Cards), bank passbooks, work, food (ration card), travel abroad, permits, business, licences, etc., cannot be considered as authorised documents for citizenship. These are issued to facilitate living.


The EPIC cards are to be considered as the document for voting by the true nationals of the country only. It is, therefore, a prime identity and non-transferable. Birth is the proof of being a citizen, subject to MEA rules, and needs to be confirmed through the verified birth and educational records from primary to high school levels only. Other documents are only facilitating the living and are issued by producing the information, which can not establish the true meaning of citizenship.


Recently, the Supreme Court of India passed an order to consider the Aadhar Card as proof of identity for the deleted voters, with the reason that it is the most easily available identity document. The Election Commission needs to exercise the power to consider the birth records over the Aadhar cards.


Further, the Supreme Court of India directed the Election Commission to publish the names of deleted voters in Bihar along with the reasons for their deletion. It also ordered the Commission to issue a notice allowing those who have not yet submitted an Aadhaar Card or EPIC to do so. However, the display of such lists with reasons may lead to the addition of unauthorised and/or non-eligible voters through manipulation.


A life certificate, declaration for non-possession of other EPIC cards, no casting of votes in any other constituencies, present employment, and birth records should also be sought from the listed names of the 65 lakh deleted voters for further disclosure and action.


Ensuring accurate voter lists and recognising EPIC as the definitive proof of citizenship is essential not just for electoral integrity but for strengthening the very foundation of our democracy.


(The writer is a resident of Mumbai. Views personal.)

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