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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.

Munde in retaliation mood

Updated: Jan 21, 2025

Munde

Mumbai: Food and Civil Supply minister Dhananjay Munde seems to be in a retaliatory mood. He has trained the guns on the BJP by making startling revelations at the party's 'Navsankalp Shibir' in Shirdi on Sunday. As the saffron party is leaving no stone unturned to throw Munde out of cabinet, he made the counter attack by disclosing past political developments. At the same time, he has even ensured patronage of NCP boss and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar by promoting his image.


Munde, who is at the center of controversy over the murder of a sarpanch in Beed, stated that during the early morning oath-taking ceremony on November 23, 2019, he had warned Ajit Pawar against aligning with the BJP. He mentioned that Sunil Tatkare was with them during the conversation. Munde further alleged that this move marked the beginning of a plot to push Ajit Pawar out of the NCP.


Munde’s reference was towards BJP’s herculean efforts to create the cracks in Baramati, the stronghold of Sharad Pawar and the NCP. It may be recalled that Finance minister Nirmala Sitaraman personally visited Baramati and addressed a public rally in the town.


Munde further said, “Since I joined the NCP, I have always stood behind Pawar. There were many attempts to portray Pawar as a villain. However, whenever someone attacked him, we stood by him and defended him. In 2019, I had advised not to take the early morning oath, but while they took the oath, I was the one who faced the consequences”.


Mahayuti government faces turmoil as Ajit Pawar is pressured to dismiss Dhananjay Munde over the sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case, causing political tensions. Not just the opposition but even ruling BJP and Shiv Sena are demanding Munde’s dismissal. So far, Pawar has stood with Munde and managed to sustain the pressure mounted by alliance partners.


Addressing his party workers at the Navasanklap Shibir, Munde fired the first salvo at the BJP. He said that certain individuals were targeting him, particularly in Beed, and emphasised the importance of social harmony in Marathwada. Munde expressed his concerns about the deterioration of social cohesion in the region, particularly in light of the killing of Beed sarpanch. He argued that those responsible should be severely punished.


So far Pawar stood with Munde. The minister who is at the receiving end made a full-fledged attempt for the protection of Ajit dada even in future. Munde also spoke about his removal from the position of Guardian Minister of Beed. He revealed that he had personally requested both Ajit Pawar and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to assign the responsibility of Beed's development to Ajit Pawar.


Munde argued that, under Pawar’s leadership, Beed would experience significant development. “In view of the current situation in Beed, I had suggested to Ajit Pawar that he should take up the post of Beed district guardian minister. I had also made the same suggestion to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

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