The Mahayuti alliance has brought an end to days of political suspense by announcing its candidates for the top civic posts in Mumbai. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ritu Tawde has been nominated as the alliance’s candidate for Mayor of Mumbai, while Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) corporator Sanjay Shankar Ghadi has been named the Deputy Mayor.
Ghadi currently represents the Magathane ward and is considered a senior and experienced corporator within the Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
Mahayuti Secures Majority in BMC
The announcement follows the recently concluded Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, which were held on January 15 along with elections to 28 other civic bodies across Maharashtra.
In the BMC polls:
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BJP won 89 seats
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Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) secured 29 seats
Together, the Mahayuti alliance crossed the 144-seat majority mark, giving it control of India’s richest municipal corporation.
Mayor Post Reserved for Woman Candidate
On January 22, a lottery system was used to determine reservation eligibility for mayoral posts across Maharashtra. Mumbai’s mayoral position was reserved for a woman candidate from the General category, paving the way for Ritu Tawde’s nomination.
Other cities that also received women mayors from the General category include:
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Pune
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Dhule
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Nanded-Waghala
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Navi Mumbai
Political Tensions Before the Final Announcement
Despite holding a comfortable majority, the Mahayuti alliance faced uncertainty due to concerns over possible last-minute defections. Following the election results, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena moved its corporators to a hotel in Bandra, triggering political speculation.
Shifting post-poll equations and reports of rival parties attempting to approach corporators added to the suspense. Political tensions were further fuelled after the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) extended support to Shiv Sena in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC).
Leaders from both the BJP and the Congress also accused each other of attempting to destabilize alliances by wooing corporators from rival camps.
Mahayuti Brings Stability to Mumbai Civic Leadership
With the formal announcement of Ritu Tawde and Sanjay Shankar Ghadi, the Mahayuti alliance has now established clarity and leadership stability in Mumbai’s civic administration, setting the stage for governance and development priorities in the coming term.
