BJP corporator Ritu Tawde was elected unopposed as the Mayor of Mumbai on Wednesday, with Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Ghadi being elected unopposed as Deputy Mayor of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in a special general body meeting held at the civic headquarters in Mumbai.

Both Tawde and Ghadi were declared elected without any contest because the rival parties did not field competing nominations.

Ritu Tawde, a corporator from Ward 132 in Ghatkopar, officially took charge as the 78th Mayor of Mumbai after the unopposed election. Sanjay Ghadi, who won from Ward 5 in Magathane in the recent January 15 civic elections, will serve as Deputy Mayor under a rotational arrangement agreed upon by the alliance partners.

The unopposed election ended the long rule of the Shiv Sena (UBT) in the symbolic mayor’s post in Mumbai, marking the BJP’s return to the mayoral position after 44 years and the second time a BJP leader has held this office in the city’s history. Tawde had earlier served as chairperson of the Education Committee of the BMC and was chosen as the mayoral candidate by the ruling alliance’s party leaders in a meeting held last week at the BMC headquarters.

The election process took place at the historic Committee Hall of the BMC. In the absence of an elected general body since March 2022, the corporation had been administered by Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, who presided over the proceedings as the designated presiding officer.

Among those present at the ceremony were Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who is the leader of the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena. Both leaders congratulated Tawde and Ghadi on their election.

Speaking after the unopposed victory, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “We are happy that our candidate Ritu Tawde is elected as mayor and Sanjay Ghadi is elected as deputy mayor.” He added, “Tawde is experienced and knows the pulse of people. As a mayor, she will fulfill dreams of the common Mumbaikar.” Fadnavis also noted that we are celebrating the centenary year of Balasaheb Thackeray and stated, “We will fulfil his dreams.”

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde told reporters, “I thank Mumbaikars, and they voted for Mahayuti and want development. I congratulate Ritu Tawde and Sanjay Ghadi. Both are efficient and experienced.” He added, “After our Mahayuti government came to power, I worked for two and a half years, and Devendraji is working for one year, we worked for development. Mumbaikars were kept away from development in 25 years (he means the Sena UBT rule in BMC). We will fulfil the dreams of Balasaheb Thackeray, who wanted houses for slum dwellers. We will give good roads, water and also make Mumbai drug-free.”

Tawde’s election to the mayor’s post comes after the BJP emerged as the single-largest party in the 227-member BMC, winning 89 seats in the civic elections, while the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena won 29 seats. Together with their allies, the ruling Mahayuti alliance has a combined strength of 118 corporators, giving them a clear majority in the house.

Ritu Tawde is now the second mayor from the BJP in Mumbai after Prabhakar Pai, who served in the post from 1982 to 1983. Sanjay Ghadi, in line with a rotational agreement within the alliance, will serve as deputy mayor for 15 months instead of the usual two-and-a-half-year term, allowing other councillors the opportunity to hold the post in rotation.

This leadership change officially transitions the BMC from prolonged administration by the Commissioner back to elected civic leadership, as the newly constituted house begins its term.