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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.

Test of Thackeray Legacy

Thackeray Legacy

Mumbai: The Mahim assembly constituency is poised for a thrilling electoral battle, as Amit Thackeray, scion of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), prepares to face off against formidable opponents. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena has nominated Sada Sarvankar, while Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) has fielded Mahesh Sawant, setting the stage for a fierce contest.


Amit, 32, has been an active party worker for the last four years. Amit’s entry into politics marks a significant milestone, as he becomes the third member of the extended Thackeray family to contest elections. He will be the second member from the Thackeray family to enter the political fray, after his cousin Aaditya Thackeray, son of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. Aaditya won the assembly election from the Worli constituency in 2019.


The constituency encompasses the swathe from Prabhadevi to Shivaji Park to Mahim, which houses Sena Bhavan, headquarters of Shiv Sena (UBT).


Mahim’s diverse voter base, comprising upper-class Maharashtrians, cosmopolitan, and minority communities, adds complexity to the contest. The constituency has historically been a Shiv Sena or MNS stronghold since 1990, with the Shiv Sena headquarters located in the area. In 2009, MNS’s Nitin Sardesai emerged victorious in Mahim.


A senior MNS leader said that “Thackeray family has a rich legacy in Maharashtra politics, and it’s exciting to see the next generation taking the reins. Amit Thackeray, son of Raj Thackeray, has been groomed well by his father and has also toured the state independently, showcasing his commitment to politics.’’


The Mahim assembly seat has become a crucial battleground, with Amit Thackeray’s electoral debut and the legacy of the Thackeray family hanging in the balance. The outcome will have significant implications for Maharashtra’s political landscape.


MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar has made a significant appeal to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, requesting that they refrain from fielding a candidate against Amit Thackeray in the Mahim constituency. This appeal is rooted in a sense of family unity and political strategy, as evidenced by Raj Thackeray’s decision not to field a candidate against Aaditya Thackeray in Worli during the 2019 elections .


MNS Chief Raj Thackeray had decided to go in the assembly elections, but they’re still hoping for some strategic backing from the Mahayuti parties, particularly the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, in key Mumbai seats. The goal is to defeat the rival Shiv Sena (UBT). 


Although MNS had previously extended unconditional support to the Mahayuti in the Lok Sabha election, Raj Thackeray even shared the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a public meeting in Shivaji Park. This alliance could potentially give MNS a boost in the elections.


However, one of the MNS leaders said that they are being optimistic about gaining support from disgruntled BJP voters in constituencies where the local MLAs of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena have fallen out of favour. According to the MNS leader, people’s dissatisfaction with both the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition MVA may drive them to choose the MNS instead. 


“Our expectations of attracting BJP voters may not be entirely far-fetched, considering the party’s ability to tap into regional sentiments and capitalize on local discontent. In the past, the MNS has successfully intervened in issues like the Jet Airways layoff controversy, securing the reinstatement of employees,” he said. 


The MNS has finalised a list of around 175 assembly seats in the 288-member house where it can field its candidates, and the party chief is likely to decide on the final tally, he adds.


“We are counting on informal support from the Shiv Sena and BJP in Bhandup, a constituency where they lack a strong candidate to challenge Ramesh Korgaonkar, now representing the Shiv Sena. This move comes after MNS extended unconditional support to the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance in Maharashtra ahead of the Lok Sabha 2024 elections,” he said.

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