BJP to Announce Mumbai Mayor Today: Top Contenders Revealed

MUMBAI: The race for Mumbai’s mayoral post has reached its final stage following the recent Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to officially announce its candidate on 7 February, ahead of the mayoral election scheduled for 11 February. A meeting of BJP corporators is called at the BMC headquarters at 9 AM, where party president Amit Satam is expected to reveal the nominee.

Since the mayoral post is reserved for a woman from the general category, the party is focusing on experienced female leaders for the 78th mayoral position.

Top BJP Contenders
Leading names include Sheetal Gambhir Desai, head of BJP’s Mumbai Women’s Wing, who secured a resounding victory from the Mahim-Dadar constituency. Ritu Tawade, a three-time corporator from Ghatkopar and former Chairperson of the Education Committee, is also a strong contender. Rajashree Shirwadkar, a three-time corporator from Sion with extensive BMC administrative experience, is another top candidate. Sakshi Dalvi, serving her second term as corporator, is considered a strong contender as well.

Political Equations in BMC
The 227-member BMC assembly currently favors the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which holds a majority with 114 seats. The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, with 29 seats, brings the alliance’s total to 118. Support from both factions of the NCP, led by Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar, strengthens the government’s position to around 122 corporators.

Despite lacking a majority, Shiv Sena (UBT) is expected to field its own candidate. The Thackeray faction, the second-largest party with 65 seats, aims to consolidate votes from the Congress and smaller parties within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), holding roughly 106-108 corporators’ combined strength. While a win for the opposition remains challenging, the move is seen as a strategic effort to maintain political pressure and assert influence over the municipal body.

Nomination and Voting
Following the announcement, nominations will be filed at 12 PM on 7 February. The mayoral election will take place at BMC headquarters on 11 February at 12 PM, ending nearly four years of administration under an appointed municipal commissioner.