BJP leader and corporator from ward no. 132, Ritu Tawade, on Saturday filed her nomination papers for the post of Mayor in BMC. Whereas the Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Shankar Ghadi has filed the nomination papers for Deputy Mayor in the civic body.
The nomination filing from Tawade and Ghadi marks a key development in the race for the city’s civic body’s administration. Ritu Tawade’s nomination as the BMC Mayor was announced by BJP leader Amit Satam on Saturday. Whereas Sanjay Shankar Ghadi’s name for the Deputy Mayor was announced by Shiv Sena leader Rahul Shewale at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters.
Ghadi will serve as BMC Deputy Mayor for 15 months
Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Shankar Ghadi will serve as deputy mayor for 15 months, Shiv Sena secretary Sanjay More has said in a statement, as reported by news agency PTI.
Gandhi was one of the senior former Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators who switched sides to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. By splitting the deputy mayor`s term in Mumbai, the Shiv Sena intends to give an opportunity to four of its corporators.
In the polls for the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats, while Shiv Sena won 29 seats. The ruling alliance, with a combined strength of 118 corporators, is past the halfway mark of 114 and is well placed to secure the mayor`s post.
Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS failed to impress
During the recently concluded BMC election 2026, the Shiv Sena (UBT), which ruled the civic body for 25 years since 1997, won 65 seats, while its allies, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar), only managed to win six and one seat, respectively.
Among other parties, the Congress won 24 seats, AIMIM eight, the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) three, and the Samajwadi Party two. Two independent candidates also won in the high-stakes election, held after a nine-year gap.
The BMC commissioner has been serving as the state government-appointed administrator since March 7, 2022, following the end of the previous term. BMC is the country`s richest civic body, with its budget for 2025-26 pegged at Rs 74,450 crore, which is higher than that of some smaller states.
(With inputs from PTI)
