BJP Secures Mumbai Mayoral Post, Ritu Tawde Becomes 78th BMC Mayor

Ritu Tawde was unanimously elected Mayor of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation ( BMC ), marking a major political development in the governance of India’s financial capital. Sanjay Ghadi was also elected unopposed as Deputy Mayor . Tawde formally assumed charge as the 78th Mayor at the civic headquarters amid slogans raised by corporators from both ruling and opposition benches. Senior Maharashtra leaders, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, attended the ceremony and congratulated the new civic leadership, calling the moment significant for Mumbai’s development trajectory.

Tawde’s election is being viewed as historic because the BJP has secured the mayoral post in the country’s wealthiest municipal body after a gap of 44 years . She is only the second BJP representative to hold the post in Mumbai’s civic history. The election process was conducted in the historic committee hall of the BMC headquarters by Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani , acting as the state-appointed presiding officer. Prior to the ceremony, corporators from the BJP and Shiv Sena paid floral tributes at Hutatma Chowk before proceeding to the headquarters. With no elected general body in place since March 2022 , the civic administration had been under the direct supervision of the municipal commissioner, making this leadership transition particularly noteworthy.

The BMC, regarded as India’s richest civic body , manages critical urban infrastructure including roads, water supply, public health, sanitation, and large-scale development projects. Political control of the corporation carries symbolic and administrative weight, often influencing wider state politics . Fadnavis said the Mahayuti alliance would fulfil its promises to Mumbaikars and emphasised the civic body’s importance in democratic governance , while Shinde stated that the government aims to transform Mumbai into a global fintech hub in line with national urban development goals. BJP leaders described the development as a mandate for transparent governance .

Ritu Tawde is a senior BJP corporator representing Ward 132 (Ghatkopar) and has held key responsibilities in civic committees, giving her administrative experience within the corporation. In the 227-member BMC , the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats , while its ally Shiv Sena secured 29 seats . Shiv Sena (UBT), which controlled the civic body for 25 years from 1997, won 65 seats , while smaller allies registered limited victories. The new leadership lineup signals a significant power shift in Mumbai’s municipal politics and sets the stage for a new phase in the city’s governance.