BJP Takes Over Mumbai Mayor Post After 44 Years As Ritu Tawde Elected Unopposed

Mumbai: Bharatiya Janata Party ((BJP) leader Ritu Tawde was elected unopposed to the post of Mumbai Mayor during a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) meeting on Wednesday. With this, BJP has reclaimed the post after 44 years. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena corporator Sanjay Gadhi has been elected as the Deputy Mayor of Mumbai.

The leaders were elected in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Notably, Mumbai has got a Mayor after a gap of almost four years. Mumbai had been without an elected mayor or general body since March 2022.

Who Is Ritu Tawde?

Ritu Tawde, the 78th Mumbai Mayor, is a three-time corporator representing Ward 132 in Ghatkopar East. Her ability to secure a victory in a Gujarati-dominated constituency, despite her Maratha heritage, underscores her broad political appeal.

Tawde previously served as the Chairperson of BMC's education committee. She joined BJP after quitting Congress in 2012.

Tawde is BJP's first female Mumbai Mayor. After being elected to the post, she said, “We will work as servants of the people, standing on the roads and streets.”

Who Is Sanjay Ghadi?

Sanjay Ghadi is a corporator from Shiv Sena. He represents Ward 5 in Magathane. He will be the Deputy Mayor of Mumbai for a period of 15 months.

After being elected as the Deputy Mayor, Ghadi said, "Today is a very happy day. I have become the Deputy Mayor. Work is underway to make Mumbai's roads cement concrete. Rainwater coming into Mumbai should flow easily and should not stagnate in Mumbai. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation has already worked on this, and we will work on it further. Bigger hospitals should be built in Mumbai, new ones should be built, and the existing hospitals should have good medicines, good doctors and good beds. Mayor Madam and I will press the administration to do this."

After Ritu Tawde and Sanjay Ghadi were officially elected, chants of ‘Modi-Modi’ and ‘Deva Bhau’ echoed in the BMC headquarters.

Congratulating the two leaders, Fadnavis said, “Both are experienced, and people will benefit. We will work together and give directions to the BMC.”

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