In the elections held for BMC and 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, the BJP alliance has swept the opposition aside. The BJP coalition leads in 23 out of 29 municipal corporations in the state. They have gained significant advantages in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and Nashik. BJP has fully captured Mumbai, emerging as the largest party in BMC for the first time in 45 years.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) holds immense importance among all the state's corporations. Out of 227 seats, the BJP coalition appears to secure 118. Currently, BJP candidates lead in 90 seats, while Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena holds the lead in 28. The saffron wave is evidently sweeping through Mumbai.
The BJP triumphs in the BMC elections, positioning itself to appoint its first-ever mayor in Mumbai. Until now, no BJP leader has held the mayoral office in the BMC's history. After 45 years since its formation, BJP finally stands a chance to elect a mayor in Mumbai.
BJP Coalition Secures Majority in BMC
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has 227 seats. A majority of 114 is needed for a mayor. Current trends show BJP clinching 90 seats and Shinde's Shiv Sena leading or winning 28 seats, rounding up to 118 seats for the coalition, creating a wave of celebration in the BJP camp.
Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) is ahead in 63 seats or has secured a win. The Congress leads in 12 seats, with 6 MNS candidates charging ahead. Ajit Pawar's NCP secures one seat while other parties gain 9 seats. Consequently, BJP is well on its way to securing their mayor in Mumbai.
BJP's Rule over Mumbai after 45 Years
The Bharatiya Janata Party was founded in 1980. After 45 years, they have emerged as the biggest party in Mumbai's BMC elections. The presence of BJP is strongly felt in the BMC, and they are visibly close to forming their government in Mumbai. For the first time, BJP can appoint a mayor in Mumbai.
In the previous 2017 BMC elections, BJP won 82 seats and Shiv Sena clinched 84. As the coalition government ruled Maharashtra, BJP supported Shiv Sena, but this time, the political stakes have shifted.
In the Mumbai BMC elections, BJP allied with Shinde's Shiv Sena, overpowering the Thackeray brothers' duo. BJP looks to win 8 more seats than the 2017 BMC elections, while Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) is set to lose 19 seats. Even joining forces with the opposition doesn't place Uddhav in a position to elect a mayor, while BJP stands steadily poised.
Who Will Be BJP's Mayor in Mumbai?
After four years, Mumbai is set to finally have a mayor. The last person on the position was Shiv Sena's Kishori Pednekar from November 22, 2019, to March 8, 2022, during the unified Shiv Sena times. But now, with the split Shiv Sena factions, Shinde's faction has led with BJP, while Uddhav Thackeray aligned with Raj Thackeray's MNS to try their luck.
In Mumbai, the BJP and Shinde's Shiv Sena are heading towards a decisive majority. BJP emerges as the largest party, giving it a chance to appoint a mayor for the first time. The lingering question is, who will be bestowed with the BMC's leadership?
BJP has already clarified that their mayor will emerge from the Marathi community. Many prominent BJP leaders have been elected as councilors, also known as municipal servants. Kirti Somaiya's son, Neel Somaiya, gets elected for the second time. Additionally, Tejasvi Ghosalkar has secured a win from the Dahisar seat.
About a month before the BMC elections, Tejasvi switched allegiance from the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction to BJP. Following the BMC victory, there are anticipations within BJP regarding his candidacy for the mayoral role. Alongside, several other prominent BJP leaders have been elected as councilors. The anticipation on who BJP will choose as their mayor is building high.
How Mumbai's BMC Mayor Will Be Chosen
The BMC mayor, considered a powerful role, attracts significant competition. Out of various wards, 227 councilors are elected, known as municipal servants or corporators in Mumbai. The party with a majority stakes the highest claim to the mayor's role.
Councilors elected from municipal corporation elections vote to elect the mayor, whose tenure spans two-and-a-half years, while the councilor's tenure lasts five years. A new mayor election occurs after a mayor completes their term.
In BMC, even though the mayor's position is the grandest, the real power resides elsewhere. The wealthiest municipality has two wings: the political wing led by the mayor and the administrative wing headed by the Municipal Commissioner.
