By adbnu564 
Mumbai Mayor Race Heats Up After BMC Poll Results
The Mumbai mayoral election has entered a decisive phase after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections concluded. Senior corporators Alka Kerkar, a former deputy mayor, and Rajashree Shirwadkar have emerged as the leading contenders for the mayor’s post.
The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a strong mandate in the civic polls, giving it a clear advantage in choosing Mumbai’s next mayor. A lottery conducted on Thursday confirmed that India’s financial capital will have a woman mayor from the open category.
Lottery Confirms Woman Mayor for Mumbai
Officials conducted the lottery to determine reservation categories for mayoral posts across Maharashtra. The draw confirmed that Mumbai’s mayor will come from the general category and will be a woman.
Several other key cities will also elect women mayors from the open category, including:
- Mumbai
- Pune
- Pimpri-Chinchwad (PCMC)
- Nagpur
- Navi Mumbai
- Mira-Bhayandar
- Bhiwandi
- Dhule
- Malegaon
- Nanded
In total, 17 municipal corporations will select mayors from the open category, reinforcing the growing presence of women in urban governance.
Sena-UBT Alleges Manipulation in Reservation Process
The opposition has strongly criticised the lottery process. The Shiv Sena (UBT) accused the state government of tailoring the reservation rules to benefit the ruling alliance.
Former Mumbai mayor and Sena-UBT leader Kishori Pednekar attended the lottery meeting and raised objections during the proceedings.
“The government altered the reservation norms by increasing the minimum requirement for ST seats from two to three. This move excluded Mumbai from ST, SC, and OBC reservations and amounts to clear injustice,” Pednekar said.
Sena-UBT leaders argue that the government deliberately modified the framework to influence outcomes in major civic bodies.
BMC Election Results: Numbers That Matter
The BMC elections held on January 15 reshaped Mumbai’s political landscape. The results stood as follows:
- BJP: 89 seats
- Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction): 29 seats
- Shiv Sena (UBT): 65 seats
- Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS): 6 seats
- NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar): 1 seat
The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance crossed the 114-seat majority mark, securing control over India’s richest municipal corporation.
Political Significance of the Mumbai Mayor Election
For decades, the undivided Shiv Sena controlled the BMC. However, the latest results reflect a shift in Mumbai’s civic power structure. The upcoming mayoral appointment will play a crucial role in shaping policy decisions, infrastructure projects, and civic governance in the city.
Key Highlights
- Mumbai will get a woman mayor from the open category
- Alka Kerkar and Rajashree Shirwadkar lead the list of probable candidates
- Sena-UBT alleges rule changes and manipulation in the lottery system
- BJP-led Mahayuti holds a clear majority in the BMC
- Women will lead several major municipal corporations across Maharashtra