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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.

On the horns of a dilemma

Mumbai: As the euphoria of the first public stage sharing of Thackeray cousins – Uddhav and Raj – ebbs, strategists and soothsayers on both sides get down to the brasstacks of a possible political alliance between Shiv Sena (UBT)-Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).

 

The die-hard assertions of ex-chief minister and SS (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray and MNS President Raj Thackeray at the June 5 victory rally for the cause of ‘Marathi’ and ‘Marathi Manoos’ earned them dollops of publicity and goodwill among the ordinary folks.

 

It also rekindled fervent hopes of the ‘Thackeray brand’ catapulting back to the political centre-stage – as in the times of the (undivided) Shiv Sena founder the late Balasaheb Thackeray.

 

Yet, a key question nags the key organizers of the two parties: “What shape will the proposed political alliance take and which side will benefit most, as ‘one bucket is empty and the other is full’, as that can upset the balance,” as a senior SS (UBT) functionary explained.

 

Depending on the kind of tie-up – it would be long-term, as proclaimed by Uddhav – the first testing ground would be the upcoming civic elections in the state, which maybe held around December, as per a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader today.

 

“Many factors will be considered when the actual bargaining starts… Despite common (Thackeray family) origins, both parties are separate entities, legally and politically, with two high-profile leaders, including one (Uddhav) who has served as the state CM. Can't rule out angry flashes and egoistic clashes,” admitted a MNS leader.

 

Boost to confidence

The confidence levels on both sides received a booster dose after the July 5 joint rally when the Thackeray cousins hugged and shook hands after 20 years, but a lot of water has flown in the Mithi River in the past two decades.

 

A former SS (UBT) office-bearer pointed out how the cousins went their separate ways, Uddhav went onto become the first-ever CM from the Thackeray clan, Raj went around playing ‘videos’ lampooning leaders from all sides till he became ignorable.

 

Raj became synonymous with flip-flops, at times supporting the BJP and at other times opposing it, praising or ridiculing its leadership, a fresh somersault after his date with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Aug. 2019 – just before the Assembly elections that saw his cousin wearing the CM’s crown.

 

In between, he treaded on many toes including the North Indians, the Gujaratis, the Muslim with the mosque loudspeakers campaign, etc. that made the MNS almost ‘politically untouchable’ – till the BJP gave the 3-language formula issue on a platter.

 

“Under such circumstances, it remains to be seen if Uddhav can afford the political risks associated with the MNS. How much will the MNS spare and reciprocate? The hugs at the top-level are good enough, but will the bonhomie percolate to the grassroots where domains are fiercely guarded, and could lead to sabotage,” averred the SS (UBT) leader.

 

Moreover, Raj had unabashedly appealed for votes and the CM’s post ‘at least once, to set right things’ in the state that may weigh in Big Brother Uddhav’s calculations – as the latter also must consider the interests of gen-next – if the alliance goes to the next level.

 

The MVA brotherhood

The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is abuzz with talks of the ally Shiv Sena (UBT) joining hands with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), and its future ramifications, especially for the other two partners, a sulking Congress and a wary Nationalist Congress Party (SP).

 

Congress skipped the July 5 event as it felt the ‘lost-and-found’ Thackeray kin had allegedly hijacked the credit for the success of the anti-Hindi campaign it had started, while the NCP (SP) considers the SS (UBT)-MNS brotherhood may strengthen the MVA.

 

Queries whether the SS (UBT)-MNS could edge out the Congress-NCP (SP), evoked much mirth, with a Congress leader saying, “first they need to spell out the extent of their tie-up” and a NCP (SP) functionary feeling its “too premature” to even comment on it.

 

They explain how the other three current allies are established parties with electoral successes compared with MNS that usually occupied the political pavements, plus it is not clear what shape the MVA may take before the civic elections.

 

Once there is full clarity on all this, it would need a lot of give-and-take, compromises, ego-clashes and heart-burns – all potential ingredients to rock the boat, unless there is complete mutual trust and patience, they said.

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