According to an order issued by the Urban Development Department, the draw of lots will take place at the state secretariat. In Maharashtra, mayors are elected by corporators, but the post is reserved on a rotational basis
In Mumbai, the BJP has emerged as the largest single party. File Pic/iStock
The Maharashtra government has begun the process to elect mayors in Mumbai and 28 other municipal corporations. The lottery to decide reservation for the mayoral posts will be held on January 22, officials said, reported the PTI.
According to an order issued by the Urban Development Department, the draw of lots will take place at the state secretariat. In Maharashtra, mayors are elected by corporators, but the post is reserved on a rotational basis.
The lottery decides whether the mayor’s post will be open to the general category or reserved for women, Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) or Other Backward Classes (OBC). Once the category is declared, eligible corporators can file their nominations, as per the PTI.
After nominations are filed, the mayor is elected during a special meeting of the municipal corporation. A candidate must secure more than half of the total strength of the House to win, the news agency reported.
If no single party has a clear majority, political alliances become crucial in deciding the outcome, according to the PTI.
BJP emerges as largest party in Mumbai
In Mumbai, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the largest single party in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections held on January 15. The BJP won 89 of the 227 seats, ending nearly 30 years of control by the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena over the country’s richest civic body.
The BJP’s ally, Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, won 29 seats.
Political speculation over mayor’s post
Speculation over political alignments began after the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) emerged as the second largest party with 65 seats. Its ally, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), won six seats.
Among other parties, the Congress won 24 seats, AIMIM eight, Ajit Pawar-led NCP three, the Samajwadi Party two, and the NCP (SP) one seat.
The Ajit Pawar-led NCP, though part of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance at the state level, contested the BMC elections separately.
Symbolic importance of mayor’s post
While the mayor’s role is largely ceremonial, the post holds strong symbolic value as it represents political control of the civic body. The mayor presides over important meetings of the municipal corporation.
Kishori Pednekar of Shiv Sena (UBT) was the last elected mayor of Mumbai before the state government appointed an administrator in 2022.
Results across Maharashtra civic polls
In elections held across 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, the BJP won the highest number of seats, securing 1,425 of the 2,869 seats. Shiv Sena won 399 seats, while the NCP secured 167.
Within the Maha Vikas Aghadi, the Congress won the highest number with 324 seats. Shiv Sena (UBT) won 155 seats, the MNS 13, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) 36, the BSP six, and Independents 19 seats.
Unrecognised parties registered with the State Election Commission, including the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and Bahujan Vikas Aghadi, won 196 seats. The Samajwadi Party and AIMIM together secured 129 seats.
(with PTI inputs)
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