Ritu Tawde Elected as Mumbai's 78th Mayor in Heated BMC Session
In a tumultuous session marked by political clashes, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) House elected BJP's Ritu Tawde as the 78th mayor of Mumbai on Tuesday. The proceedings were disrupted by noisy scenes, with leaders from ruling and Opposition parties exchanging slogans, and walkouts staged by the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress.
Historic Election Amidst Controversy
Tawde was elected unopposed, making her the eighth woman mayor in Mumbai's history and the second BJP mayor since the post was formally established in the BMC in 1931. Alongside her, Shiv Sena's Sanjay Ghadi was elected as the deputy mayor. However, the election was overshadowed by a verbal spat over the appointment of BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani as the presiding officer, which the Opposition contested, leading to heated exchanges and walkouts.
Key Priorities Outlined by Mayor Tawde
Upon taking charge, Mayor Tawde outlined her administration's focus areas, emphasizing a strong stance on illegal immigration. She stated, "Removal of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the city will find key focus during my term." Additionally, she highlighted her commitment to promoting Marathi language and culture, announcing plans to enhance the BMC's Marathi language department and build a special theatre for Marathi films, with renovations modeled after the Ravindra Natya Mandir.
Infrastructure and Development Projects
Tawde also pledged to advance major infrastructure initiatives, including concretisation and water augmentation projects involving the Gargai, Pinjal, and Damanganga dams. She asserted, "The Mahayuti will work towards development of Mumbaikars." Other special projects mentioned include:
- Implementation of zero waste wards
- Toilet on demand policy
- Tanker mafia-free Mumbai policy
- GenZ internship programmes
- Fish import export centres
- Smart traffic priority system
Political Tensions and Walkouts
The session saw significant unrest, with BJP leaders chanting "Modi Modi" while the Opposition countered with "Thackeray Thackeray." Kishori Pednekar, the leader of the Opposition, criticized the appointment of the commissioner as presiding officer, arguing that senior corporators should have been given the role as per rules. Corporators from the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction walked out during Deputy Mayor Ghadi's speech, followed by Congress members protesting inadequate seating arrangements.
This election marks a pivotal moment in Mumbai's governance, with Mayor Tawde set to navigate political divisions while driving forward her agenda for the city's development and cultural promotion.
