1 week ago
Mumbai Mayor Faces Heat Over ₹25.12 Lakh Social Media Contract
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde is facing questions about money spent on social media work.
The contract is worth ₹25.12 lakh for one year.
It involves Runtime Solutions Pvt Ltd.
The company is supposed to help manage social media connected with the mayor’s office.
The Opposition says this money should instead help fix basic city services.
The mayor says she did not choose the agency.
Her office says the company was already hired through a tender to work on the civic body’s social media.
A BMC committee is now considering the contract.
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde faces Opposition criticism over a ₹25.12 lakh social media contract.
The one-year contract with Runtime Solutions Pvt Ltd runs from August 1, 2026, to July 31, 2027.
The contract is listed under the BMC Public Relations Department, and its document says no tender was invited.
Tawde’s office says the agency had already been appointed through a tender to manage BMC social media platforms.
Opposition leader Kishori Pednekar called the spending wasteful, while Tawde denied involvement in the appointment.
- Who
- Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde, Opposition leader Kishori Pednekar, and Runtime Solutions Pvt Ltd.
- What
- A ₹25.12 lakh, one-year contract for social media work linked to the Mayor’s office is facing scrutiny.
- Where
- Mumbai, within the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
- When
- The contract runs from August 1, 2026, to July 31, 2027; the controversy was reported on August 19, 2026.
- Why
- The Opposition questions the contract’s cost and need, while the mayor’s office says the agency was already handling civic social media work.
Opposition criticism
Mayor’s office response
Need for the spending
Opposition criticism
Kishori Pednekar says spending on social media publicity for the mayor’s activities is wasteful and diverts money from city needs.
Mayor’s office response
The mayor’s office says the spending was not for a separate publicity campaign or a new agency, but for an agency already handling civic social media platforms.
Mayor’s role in the appointment
Opposition criticism
The Opposition is questioning the proposal and its cost, including the use of civic funds for the mayor’s communications.
Mayor’s office response
Ritu Tawde denies having any role in appointing the agency.
Tender process
Opposition criticism
The contract document says no tender was invited, raising questions about how the appointment was made.
Mayor’s office response
The mayor’s office says Runtime Solutions Pvt Ltd had already been appointed through a tender to provide technical manpower for BMC social media.
Key facts
- Contract value
- ₹25.12 lakh
- Contract period
- August 1, 2026, to July 31, 2027
- Contractor
- Runtime Solutions Pvt Ltd
- Department
- BMC Public Relations Department
- Tender status
- The contract document says no tender was invited; the mayor’s office says the agency was previously appointed through a tender for civic social media work.
- Mayor’s earlier request
- In February 2026, Tawde sought a social media expert, photographer, and videographer for her office.
- Opposition criticism
- Kishori Pednekar said civic funds should support basic amenities, infrastructure, and public services instead of publicity.
Quotes
Kishori Pednekar
Opposition leader and Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator
“"The BMC runs on taxes paid by Mumbai residents. That money should go towards basic amenities, infrastructure and public services. Spending lakhs on reels and social media publicity showing the mayor’s movements, meetings and programmes is an outright waste of Mumbaikars’ money."”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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