Mumbai BMC Mayor Election: Women Frontrunners Emerge to Lead India’s Richest Civic Body

Mumbai | Undercover Editor News Channel, January 23, 2026

Mumbai:

The race for the post of Mumbai Mayor has entered a decisive phase, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerging as the frontrunner to reclaim the top position in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after nearly four decades. Following the Urban Development Department’s lottery that reserved the mayor’s post for a woman from the General category, the BJP has narrowed its shortlist to several experienced women corporators.

Party sources indicate that the BJP leadership is weighing organisational strength, political strategy, and public appeal as it prepares to make a historic return to the mayor’s chair. The last BJP mayor of Mumbai was Dr Prabhakar Pai in the 1980s.

Key Contenders in the BJP Camp

Among the leading names is Ritu Tawde, a two-time corporator from Ghatkopar who joined the BJP from the Congress in 2012. Known for her grassroots connect and organisational experience, Tawde is seen as a strong administrative choice.

Another prominent contender is Alka Kerkar, a three-time corporator from Bandra West and a former deputy mayor. With close links to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Kerkar brings both political seniority and organisational backing.

Also in the fray is Rajeshree Shirwadkar, a third-term corporator from Sion, who has steadily built a reputation within the party for her civic work and leadership skills.

Strategic Choices and Wider Political Calculations

Party insiders suggest the final decision will reflect a balance between experience, regional representation, and broader political messaging. The BJP’s potential return to power in Mumbai’s civic body is being seen as a symbolic moment, given the city’s long political history and the party’s absence from the mayor’s post for almost 40 years.

Other names under consideration include Tejasvee Ghosalkar from Dahisar, a former Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator. Her candidature is being viewed as a tactical move aligned with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s efforts to mark the birth centenary of late Balasaheb Thackeray.

Additional probable contenders include Harshita Narvekar (Fort), Priti Satam (Goregaon), Yogita Koli (Malad), Shital Gambhir (Mahim), and Swapna Mhatre (Bandra West), reflecting the party’s strong pool of women leaders across Mumbai.

A Landmark Moment for Civic Politics

With the mayor’s post reserved for a woman and the BJP on the cusp of reclaiming the position, the upcoming selection is being closely watched across political circles. The decision is expected to shape the civic and political narrative of Mumbai ahead of the next municipal elections, while also highlighting the growing role of women in urban governance.

As the final name is awaited, Mumbai stands at the threshold of a potentially historic chapter in its civic leadership.