BJP Makes History in Mumbai's Civic Body
For the first time since the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation began operations, the Bharatiya Janata Party will control India's wealthiest municipal corporation. The party secured this position by becoming the single largest party in Friday's civic elections.
The BJP achieved a decisive victory, capturing 89 of the 227 available seats. This performance improved upon their previous tally of 82 seats. Their alliance partner, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, contributed another 29 seats to the coalition's total.
End of an Era for Shiv Sena
This election result marks a significant turning point in Mumbai's political landscape. The undivided Shiv Sena's long-standing dominance over the municipal body has now concluded. The Shiv Sena (UBT) finds itself removed from power after nearly twenty-five years of control.
With 65 seats representing 27.52 percent of the winning vote share, the Sena UBT will now serve as the principal opposition party. This shift means several former mayors and veteran corporators from the Sena (UBT) will move to opposition benches.
Opposition Leaders Outline Their Strategy
Kishori Pednekar, the outgoing mayor when the House dissolved in 2022, successfully retained her home turf seat for a fourth term. She emphasized that her party will focus on maintaining strong opposition despite the power shift.
"We have accomplished substantial good work over the past twenty-five years," Pednekar stated. "Now we will continue that work from the opposition position. The BJP-Shinde Sena alliance controls everything including funds. As a robust opposition, we will fight and highlight any wrongdoing."
Pednekar mentioned that her party will decide on the Leader of Opposition position during a Tuesday meeting. She also questioned the ruling alliance's ability to select a mayoral candidate, suggesting they fear defections among their corporators.
Vishakha Raut, who served as mayor between 1997 and 1998, outlined a more nuanced approach. "Even with their numerical advantage, we will prevent wasteful expenditure," Raut explained. "We will support beneficial projects for Mumbai but remain vigilant against financial discrepancies."
Raut specifically referenced previous beautification projects she considered wasteful, indicating her party would oppose similar initiatives.
Focus on Fund Utilization
Milind Vaidya, mayor between 1996 and 1997, emphasized financial oversight as a primary opposition function. Re-elected for a sixth term, Vaidya brings extensive experience to his new role.
"I understand this system well after serving since 1992," Vaidya noted. "In recent years, wards with Sena UBT corporators received complete neglect. While Shinde Sena corporators received three to four crore rupees for works, we faced bias and obtained no funding. This affected local development and hurt us deeply."
Vaidya pledged that the opposition would investigate how their funds were utilized during the administrator's rule.
Sachin Padwal, a senior Sena UBT leader who defeated a heavyweight candidate, echoed this sentiment. "After nearly four years under administrator rule, we will demand an enquiry into expenditure, decisions, and policy changes," Padwal declared. "Our role as strong opposition will prevent abrupt decisions."
Ruling Alliance Prepares for Governance
On the ruling side, several experienced corporators who previously served in opposition now assume power. Among them stands Alka Kerkar, a three-time BJP corporator who served as deputy mayor between 2012 and 2017.
"Multiple policies require evaluation and updating," Kerkar stated regarding parking, hawkers, and market issues. "These projects remain half-implemented currently. We need stronger policies, which we will establish once the house forms."
Kerkar won from ward 98 in Friday's long-awaited polls, continuing her political career with the BJP.
Makarand Narvekar, brother of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar, retained his seat in A ward. Following his victory, Narvekar expressed confidence in his constituency's support.
"Colaba residents clearly rejected the opposition's empty promises," Narvekar asserted. "Now we focus on development-centric politics. We will accelerate development in Colaba with emphasis on roads, water supply, beautification, and infrastructure."
Victory Celebrations and Future Directions
BJP's victorious candidates and their workers celebrated their achievement with a victory rally near the counting center close to Sarasbaug. This visible display of triumph underscored the magnitude of their electoral success.
While the final mayoral candidate remains undecided, the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance will undoubtedly control this significant position. The BMC House prepares for substantial changes as new leadership takes charge and established political figures adapt to altered roles.
Former mayor Shraddha Jadhav, who retained her seat, indicated that opposition proceedings would be determined after the House constitutes itself. Meanwhile, former deputy mayor Hemangi Worlikar, victorious in ward 193, emphasized her immediate focus on ground-level work in her constituency.
The political landscape of Mumbai's civic administration has undergone a fundamental transformation. Both ruling and opposition benches now feature experienced leaders with clear agendas for Mumbai's future development and governance.
