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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.

Maharashtra’s COVID-19 Scam: Will Justice Be Served?

Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar orders a probe in Beed—Will he dare to unearth the multi-thousand crore scam buried statewide?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, corruption in Maharashtra’s public health department spread like the virus itself. Media reports had exposed a massive scam worth hundreds of crores, backed by undeniable evidence. An investigation followed, and audits confirmed the irregularities. However, powerful politicians and bureaucrats allegedly conspired to bury the scam, ensuring no real action was taken.


Now, Beed MLA Namita Mundada has raised the issue in the state legislature, putting the government on the defensive. In response, Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar has ordered the immediate suspension of the district civil surgeon under suspicion. He has also announced an inquiry into the delays in previous investigations and subsequent actions.


Abitkar, who is also the guardian minister of Kolhapur, faces a crucial test. His district witnessed a ₹110 crore scam related to the purchasing of medicines and surgical equipment during the pandemic. Will he take bold steps to initiate action in Kolhapur as well? More importantly, will he limit the probe to Beed, or will he expand it to uncover the widespread corruption across Maharashtra?


Multi-Thousand Crore Scam—Buried and Forgotten?

While citizens were gripped with fear during the pandemic, some ministers' close aides, administrative officials, and supplier companies allegedly looted Maharashtra. The scam, estimated to be worth thousands of crores, involved the procurement of medicines and medical equipment at highly inflated rates—sometimes 2 to 10 times their market price.


Media houses relentlessly pursued the story. In Kolhapur, then-District Collector, Daulat Desai had refused to clear the suppliers' bills after noticing irregularities. However, the corrupt network ensured his transfer. Meanwhile, a senior officer suspected of involvement was given a grand farewell by ministers, complete with garlands, despite allegations against him.


A petition regarding the scam is currently being heard in the Bombay High Court. The court has already pulled up the government for its mismanagement, yet not a single clerk has been suspended so far. A pharmacist from the Zilla Parishad reported that 75 crucial files related to the scam had mysteriously gone missing—yet no probe was initiated. On the contrary, several officials suspected of corruption were rewarded with promotions.


Will the Government Take Firm Action?

Now that Beed MLA Namita Mundada has reignited the issue, will real action follow? Notably, this scam occurred during the tenure of the then-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. At that time, current CM Devendra Fadnavis was the leader of the opposition and had vocally raised this issue in the legislature. However, since then, Maharashtra has seen two different governments, with Fadnavis serving first as deputy CM and now as CM once again.


With Fadnavis now in power, Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar has a golden opportunity to take credit for a full-fledged investigation. If those who looted Maharashtra during the pandemic are sent behind bars, Kolhapur’s people might just celebrate by taking out a grand procession in Abitkar’shonour!


Beyond COVID-19—A Deeper Health Department Cleanup Needed

While the COVID-19 scam is shocking, the corruption in Maharashtra’s public health department extends far beyond it. Over the past four years, questionable purchases, unnecessary procurements, and expired medicines have plagued the system.


Currently, Kolhapur holds key portfolios in the state's health administration—Prakash Abitkar heads the Public Health Ministry, while Hasan Mushrif from Kagal represents the Medical Education Department. Interestingly, just like in the health department, a similar multi-thousand crore procurement scam allegedly took place in the medical education sector.


If Mushrif follows Abitkar’s lead and orders a fair investigation, Maharashtra’s health sector might finally start recovering from the disease of corruption.


(The author is a senior journalist based in Kolhapur. Views personal.)

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