21 March,2026 11:36 PM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MS
Alka Kerkar. PIC/X
Former Deputy Mayor of Mumbai and sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Corporator from Ward No 98, Alka Kerkar, passed away on Saturday after a brief illness. She was 74 years old.
Kerkar breathed her last on Saturday evening at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai.
She was among the prominent names considered for the post of Mumbai Mayor, but her candidature was later dropped from the race.
Senior BJP leader and MLA Ashish Shelar expressed deep grief over her passing through a post on X (formerly Twitter). He wrote: "Deeply saddened by the passing of Former Deputy Mayor and Ward No. 98 Corporator Alkatai Kerkar following a brief illness. A 3rd-term corporator in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, she shared an exceptional rapport with the people of her constituency. A retired teacher, she led a simple life, devoted to her party and upheld the highest standards of integrity, never allowing corruption or unauthorized practices to take root. Widely admired for her dedication and tireless service, she worked relentlessly for the welfare of citizens and set a benchmark for fellow corporators and political workers. Her unwavering commitment to addressing the needs of ordinary people makes her loss deeply felt in the Vandre West constituency. For over three decades, we have dedicated ourselves to serving the people of Vandre West Assembly constituency and advancing the work of the BJP. Today, I have lost one of the most important pillars of that journey. Her passing is a profound loss and has plunged our entire Vandre West community into deep grief. Heartfelt condolences to her family. Om Shanti."
Alka Kerkar was a three-term corporator in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and was known for her simplicity, integrity and close connect with the people of her ward.
