The BJP’s selection of Ritu Tawde for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s mayoral position is a significant political maneuver to reshape Mumbai’s power dynamics. Tawde’s candidacy, following years of Shiv Sena control over the BMC, reflects the BJP’s ambition to establish itself as a key player in the city’s civic and cultural spheres. With a Marathi background, two-time corporator experience, and a female leadership role, Tawde aligns well with the party’s electoral agenda.
In response, the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, has put forward Sanjay Ghadi as its nominee for BMC’s Deputy Mayor. The elections for the mayor and deputy mayor are scheduled for February 11, 2026, with voting by 227 elected corporators at 11.30 a.m. Tawde, representing Ward 132 (Ghatkopar East) and a prominent Marathi figure in the BJP, previously chaired the BMC Education Committee.
If elected, Tawde would be Mumbai’s first BJP Mayor in more than four decades, succeeding Prabhakar Pai in 1982, and the city’s first non-Shiv Sena Mayor in 25 years. The BJP’s decision to nominate Tawde, a “Marathi – Konkani – Hindu” leader, underscores its leadership vision for the city. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena’s choice of Ghadi, a seasoned corporator from Ward 5 (Dahisar), as Deputy Mayor reflects its strategic moves within the alliance.
