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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.

Raj steals the show

Uddhav’s reconciliation wish likely to put Raj in quandary

Mumbai: When Raj Thackeray arrived at the NSCI Dome for a joint rally with cousin Uddhav he was fully aware that it was a moment to cement his position in the state politics. True to his nature, Raj did not disappoint the 20,000 strong audience and the political observers.


Raj’s 25-minute-long speech underpinned specific three points. He was not willing for any compromise on the issue of respect to Marathi language from across the society. He appealed the cadre to “react” whenever they see anyone insulting Marathi language and culture. At the same time, he issued a caution against beating any random person over petty issues.


Raj named one Nayan Shah, a Gujarati residing in Shivaji Park, as an example of people who love Marathi despite not having roots in Maharashtra. “He speaks fluent Marathi and listen to Pu. La. Deshpande during his evening walk in Shivaji Park,” Raj said.


Political observers believe that Raj has tried to get closer to the Gujarati community by naming Shah. His choice of example is significant since the MNS workers had slapped a Gujarati speaking shop owner in Mira Road for not conversing in Marathi a couple of days ago. “If someone raises his hand over insult of Marathi he is unaware whether the person who is insulting is a Gujarati or anyone else,” Raj said.


In a subtle message to Uddhav, Raj recalled a 1999 incident when he was very close to Shiv Sena founder the late Bal Thackeray. There was a stalemate between BJP and Shiv Sena over government formation at that time. “One day, Prakash Jawadekar came to me and requested for a meeting with Balasaheb. Jawadekar said the BJP was willing to make Suresh Jain (an MLA from Jalgaon) the Chief Minister and he wanted me to get Balasaheb’s consent for this proposal. When I told Balasaheb about this proposal he said, ‘The CM of Maharashtra will be a Marathi person only’. Balasaheb gave up the power but did not compromise on the issue of Marathi,” Raj said.


In 1999, the Congress-NCP combine formed the government as the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance failed to reach at any conclusion over power sharing. The Congress-NCP remained in the power for the next 15 years.


Political observers believe that Raj’s reference to this incident was an attempt to remind Uddhav that he was nowhere in the picture when Balasaheb used to take important political decisions. In a way, Raj tried to suggest that should the Shiv Sena (UBT) join hands with the MNS for the upcoming civic polls his (Raj) word should be considered as final when it came to seat sharing.


Senior journalist and former Congress MP Kumar Ketkar disagreed. “I don’t think Raj had any message for Uddhav in this example,” Ketkar said. “It is a known fact that Uddhav was not active in politics in 1999. Raj only reiterated what had happened at that time. It is not a message for Uddhav.”


Uddhav’s plan

The political observers agree that it is Uddhav’s need to join hands with Raj to remain relevant in the state politics. Raj has nothing to lose but if Uddhav could not regain his hold on the cash rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) his political existence will be irrelevant.


Senior journalist Rajesh Kocharekar, however, believes that Uddhav has created a catch-20 situation for Raj by openly expressing a desire for an alliance. “If Raj refutes his proposal he will be painted as pro-BJP and ultimately the killer of Marathi unity. The ball is in Raj’s court now,” Kocharekar said.  

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