top of page

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.

Royal Swagger

As Maharashtra gears up for a pivotal assembly election, the state’s Maratha royals are emerging as influential players, reinvigorating their legacy and political relevance. From Kolhapur’s Ghatge and Chhatrapatis to the warring Bhosales of Satara, these regal figures are turning heads and wielding clout —whether in switching political camps, drawing massive crowds, or resolving high-stakes disputes over candidate nominations. Their involvement reflects both tradition and strategic electoral recalibration. While the jury is out as to their ability to tip the electoral balance, they certainly are in the reckoning in the November 20 battle.


In September, Samarjeet Ghatge, a BJP leader and a descendant of the Kagal royal family, known for his close ties with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, turned his coat to Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (SP) with considerable fanfare.


Ghatge has been seething ever since his arch-rival Hasan Mushrif, a cabinet minister and another key member in the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, aligned himself with the ruling Mahayuti coalition in wake of Ajit’s rebellion. Ghatge and Mushrif have been daggers drawn for a long time when the latter was part of the undivided NCP. Their feud is well-known in Kolhapur. Now, with Ghatge on the MVA’s side, Mushrif, as the ruling Mahayuti’s candidate, finds his 25-year grip over Kagal seriously challenged.


Meanwhile, another dramatic about-face was witnessed in Kolhapur within the MVA coalition, as it nominated Madhurima Raje Chhatrapati, daughter-in-law of Kolhapur’s Congress MP Shahu Chhatrapati, over its previous candidate Rajesh Latkar. After tensions among Congress workers culminated in protests and vandalism, the decision to field Madhurima—a name carrying weight and sway—demonstrates the MVA’s effort to leverage royal clout for electoral gain. This nomination showcases the Congress’ acknowledgement of the potential impact of royal bloodlines to bolster voter confidence and minimize intra-party discord.

Earlier, in the Lok Sabha election, when the MVA lacked a suitable candidate in Kolhapur, it was Sharad Pawar who managed to get Shahu Chhatrapati to contest on the Congress symbol. The result was a resounding win for the Maratha royal.


A most intriguing role is being played by Shahu II’s son - Yuvraj Sambhaji Raje Chhatrapati. After his Rajya Sabha stint, Sambhaji Raje, an influential voice in the Maratha reservation agitation, formed the Swarajya Sangathan and has thrown in his lot with the ‘Parivartan Mahashakti Aghadi’ - a formidable alliance of Maharashtra’s smaller yet influential factions which include Raju Shetti’s Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana and Bacchu Kadu’s Prahar Janshakti Party among others.


The PMA has now emerged as a viable ‘third front’, poised to eat into votes of the ruling and opposition coalitions.


In Satara, the descendants of Chhatrapati Shivaji— Udayanraje and Shivendraraje Bhosale (both in the ruling BJP)—continue to capture public attention. Udayanraje, who won the Lok Sabha contest this time, will now be expected to support his rival, Shivendraraje, who is seeking re-election from the Satara Assembly segment for the fourth consecutive time. The duo is notorious for their turbulent and at times fractious rivalry, their dramatic familial feuds and equally dramatic public reconciliations.


With Maharashtra’s upcoming election touted to shape the state’s future, the re-emergence of Maratha royals as kingmakers signals a calculated nod to heritage and electoral might. The Maratha royals, it seems this time, are not only guardians of the past but also architects of the state’s political landscape.

Comments

bottom of page