Tavleen Singh writes a sharp critique of Mumbai's recent municipal elections. She points out that the political reunion of Shiv Sena heirs received more media attention than the city's pressing problems. Singh believes this election will fade from memory by next week, with life in Mumbai continuing unchanged.
Chief Minister's Role in Municipal Victory
When the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation election results came out last week, Maharashtra's Chief Minister claimed credit for the victory. Singh questions this absurdity. She notes that in most major global cities, mayors take full responsibility for municipal governance. In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani owns his victories and failures alone.
India's colonial governance system prevents this accountability. Chief ministers control everything, leaving municipal governance non-existent. This explains why Indian cities often rank among the world's worst governed. Nearly half of Mumbai's citizens live in squalid shanties without access to clean water or reliable electricity.
Mumbai's Governance Structure
As a long-time Mumbai resident, Singh considers herself an honorary citizen of this chaotic metropolis. She imagines how much better the city could function under an elected mayor. Currently, an unelected Municipal Commissioner appointed by the Chief Minister holds real power.
This commissioner controls a massive budget exceeding Rs 74,427 crore. The mayor plays only a ceremonial role. This colonial legacy hinders progress toward becoming a developed nation by 2047. Mumbai should rival Singapore or Hong Kong but fails to provide affordable housing to millions.
Urban Squalor in Mumbai Slums
Singh describes visiting Mumbai slums many times. She reports living conditions worse than in war-torn Gaza. Residents inhabit windowless hovels beside drains clogged with solid waste. Most slum dwellers have cell phones and televisions but steal electricity with corrupt officials' help.
Similar conditions plague poorer citizens across Indian metropolises. Smaller towns fare no better. A recent viral video from Gonda, Uttar Pradesh showed giant rats crawling on oxygen tanks and patient beds. Singh has seen schools built in garbage dumps and hospitals reeking of open drains.
Lack of Municipal Governance
Singh reiterates that municipal governance simply does not exist in India. She once hoped Prime Minister Narendra Modi would address urban planning and waste disposal issues neglected by previous governments. Sadly, no BJP-ruled state has made significant improvements.
In Delhi, a BJP chief minister presides over a city where patients sleep on pavements outside government hospitals. Night shelters lack space, forcing people to use plastic sheets and ragged blankets against winter cold.
Media's Failure in Coverage
The fault lies not only with corrupt officials but also with the media. Journalists prioritize political bickering over governance coverage. During the BMC election campaign, reporters failed to highlight rotten urban services. They asked slum dwellers about voting preferences without addressing their living conditions.
The Shiv Sena heirs' reunion got more attention than Mumbai's real problems. A handful of wealthy residents enjoy world-class living standards in gleaming new buildings. They remain indifferent to the other half until diseases from slums enter their homes through domestic workers.
Singh concludes that without genuine municipal governance, Indian cities will continue deteriorating. The BMC elections represent another missed opportunity for meaningful change.
