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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.

No significant benefits for real estate sector

Updated: Feb 3, 2025

real estate sector

Mumbai: The Union Budget unveiled on Saturday has hardly offered any significant benefits to the realty sector especially when affordable housing remains key issue among the citizens.


Though the real estate sector lobbied for various incentives like conferring industry status, increasing subsidy for the affordable housing as well as decreasing the interest rates for home loans, the government seems to have turned a blind eye to these demands.


Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman in her speech announced the second tranche of SWAMIH (Special Window for Affordable and Mid-income housing scheme) worth Rs 15,000 crore which aims to complete construction of one lakh housing units. The scheme funds the stressed housing projects and ensures their speedy completion so that the beneficiaries get their dwellings.


Anand Gupta, Vice President, Builders Association of India (BAI) said though money is allocated to SWAMIH and infrastructure projects, much needs to be done for the realty sector. “It is unfortunate that we did not get the industry status and even concessions as this sector plays a huge role both in boosting the economy as well as the generating employment,” said Gupta.


Similar is the view of Saransh Trehan, Managing Director, Trehan Group who said “The government’s continued push for affordable housing is a step in the right direction. However, key industry demands, such as industry status for the real estate sector and a streamlined single-window clearance system, remain unaddressed. These reforms are crucial to enhancing ease of doing business, expediting project approvals, and ensuring faster delivery of homes.”

Another proposal made by the Finance Minister is she has proposed a hike of Tax-deducted at source (TDS) for income tax for rental income to Rs 6 lakh annually from the present Rs 2.40 lakh. This benefits from those who own second homes and get rents from them.


Commenting on this issue, housing activist Ramesh Prabhu, Chairman, Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association (MSWA), which deals with cooperative housing societies issues, said though the TDS hike is welcome, home buying still remains a dream especially for majority citizens of metro cities. “The houses still are exorbitantly priced and on top of that taxes also remain high. We expected some relief in this budget but there is nothing per se,” rued Prabhu.


The real estate sector had created a wish list like revising the affordable housing price cap from Rs 45 lakhs to Rs 60 lakhs as prices have risen significantly ever since it was unveiled one decade back. Similarly increasing the income tax deduction limit on interest payments under Section 80C from Rs 2 lakhs to Rs 5 lakhs. There was also demanding for reduction of home loan interest rates. However nothing has been done on this front.

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