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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.

Mumbai’s Known Unknowns

Amit Thackeray

The late U.S. Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, during a 2002 press briefing, famously distinguished between “known knowns,” “known unknowns,” and “unknown unknowns” - a framework that sought to categorize the complexities of intelligence and decision-making. His remarks, emphasizing the importance of understanding the limits of one’s knowledge, were made context of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. As Mumbai gears up for a fiercely contested electoral battle, the phrase rings eerily true where established political dynasties and their legacies clash with the unpredictability of voter sentiment, emerging challenges, and the shifting alliances that characterize the electoral arena.


This election cycle, filled with familiar names and entrenched rivalries, poses challenges that few can foresee, even as the players remain well known.


Amit Thackeray, the son of Raj Thackeray and a new face in Maharashtra’s political landscape, has thrown his hat into the ring by contesting from the Mahim constituency. While one might assume that a legacy associated with the Thackeray name would afford him an easy path, he faces significant hurdles. Sada Sarvankar, the incumbent MLA from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, is steadfast in his candidacy, refusing to step aside despite being part of the Mahayuti alliance. Sarvankar’s past victories, including a decisive win in 2019, suggest that the Thackeray scion is in for a tough fight.


Meanwhile, the dynamics are further complicated by the presence of Mahesh Sawant, the candidate from Uddhav Thackeray’s faction of Shiv Sena (UBT). With a history of strong electoral performance in Mahim, Sawant could siphon votes away from Amit Thackeray, presenting a formidable barrier in a contest already rife with uncertainty.


The looming presence of minority communities in Mahim, coupled with the shifting alliances among the traditional powerhouses, creates an unpredictable voter landscape. Will Amit Thackeray succeed in rallying support from Raj Thackeray’s legacy, or will Sarvankar’s established credibility prove insurmountable?


In Worli, a neighbouring constituency steeped in Shiv Sena tradition, Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora from Eknath Shinde’s Sena is stepping into a duel against incumbent MLA Aaditya Thackeray, whose own political journey is now fraught with precariousness. The younger Thackeray’s 2019 victory by a margin of over 68,000 votes feels like a distant memory, as recent Lok Sabha electoral results (where his lead from Worli had significantly reduced) signal a waning grip on the constituency. This once unassailable bastion is now vulnerable, with Deora poised to capitalize on any faltering support from Aaditya’s base.


In the Vandre East assembly constituency, Zeeshan Siddique, who finally quit the Congress to join Ajit Pawar’s ruling NCP, has carved out a robust base of support among young voters and the local Muslim community. His reputation is bolstered by a direct engagement with constituents, addressing local issues head-on and leveraging social media to foster connections. Additionally, the recent daylight killing of his father, Baba Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister, may elicit sympathy votes that could prove crucial in this election.


Conversely, Varun Sardesai, Uddhav Thackeray’s nephew, has positioned himself as a steadfast loyalist during the political turbulence of 2022. His influence in Vandre East is notable, largely stemming from the enduring loyalty of the Shiv Sena’s traditional voter base, which remains a significant force in this constituency.

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