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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.

The fire fighter!

Updated: Nov 7, 2024

Vinod Tawde

BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde, who had always been known as the ‘fire fighter’ since his days as organization secretary in the ABVP, has successfully mediated and persuaded several rebels to withdraw their nominations against the BJP or Mahayuti nominees.


Tawde’s organizational as well as enterprising abilities have received praise even from his political opponents. The then DCM Ajit Pawar’s welcome speech in the legislature when Tawde became the leader of opposition in 2011 was full of praise for all such qualities of Tawde.


Born on July 20, 1963, Tawde completed his secondary education at St. Anthonia High School, Santacruz, and his higher secondary education at Parle College, Vile Parle in Mumbai and then pursued a vocational course from Dnyaneshwar Vidyapeeth in Pune while he was an ABVP activist. His impeccable organizational skills saw him quickly rise through the ranks to become the Secretary-General of ABVP in 1988 and later the National Secretary in 1993.


In 1995, Tawde was appointed as the General Secretary of the BJP’s Maharashtra unit, a position he held until 1999 and again from 2002 to 2011. In 1999, he became the President of the Mumbai City Unit of the BJP, making him the youngest person to hold this position.


Tawde served in various legislative capacities. He was a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council from 2008 to 2014 and served as the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council from 2011 to 2014. In 2014, he was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from the Borivali constituency.


He also held several key ministerial positions in the Maharashtra government between 2014 and 2019, including the Minister for School Education, Higher and Technical Education, Sports and Youth Welfare, Minority Development, and Marathi Language and Culture. His tenure was marked by efforts to improve the education system and promote Marathi culture.


He is married to Varsha Pawar Tawde, a social worker and writer. The couple has a daughter named Anvee Tawde. Tawde’s family has a strong connection to the RSS, with his father, Shreedhar Ramchandra Tawde, being a member of the organization.


Since November 2021, Tawde is serving the party as the National General Secretary, a testament to his enduring influence and leadership within the party.


Vinod Tawde’s journey from a student activist to a senior leader in one of India’s major political parties highlights his dedication and resilience. His contributions to education and cultural affairs in Maharashtra have left a lasting impact, and his role in the BJP continues to shape the political landscape of India.

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