Archive · 24 Jan 2026
Mumbai BMC Mayor Election: Women's Post Sparks Debate
Mumbai is going to have a woman mayor again.
The city's civic body, BMC, had a lottery to decide who could run for mayor.
This time, only women from the general category can run.
Six women are the main candidates.
Some people are unhappy because they think the rules were changed unfairly.
The mayor will be chosen from these six women, and it's a big deal because Mumbai is a very important city.
The political parties are arguing about who should support whom for the mayoral post.
Mumbai's BMC mayoral post is reserved for women from the general category, ensuring a second consecutive term for a woman mayor.
The opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) raised objections, questioning the exclusion of Mumbai from the OBC reservation list and claiming the rules were changed without informing anyone.
Six corporators—Rajashree Shirvadkar, Sheetal Gambhir, Asha Marathe, Harshita Narwekar, Ritu Tawde, and Alka Kerkar—are frontrunners for the post.
Alka Kerkar is a senior BJP leader with extensive civic administration experience and has served as Deputy Mayor.
Rajashree Shirvadkar is known for her grassroots connections and consensus-building skills.
- Who
- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and political parties including BJP, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Maha Vikas Aghadi
- What
- The mayoral election for the BMC, reserved for women from the general category
- When
- The reservation lottery was held on Thursday, with the election to follow
- Where
- Mumbai, India
- Why
- To ensure representation and political significance in the civic administration
Shiv Sena (UBT)
BJP and Maha Vikas Aghadi
Reservation Rules
Shiv Sena (UBT)
The rules were changed without informing anyone, which is unfair.
BJP and Maha Vikas Aghadi
The lottery was conducted fairly according to the established rules.
Mayoral Candidate Support
Shiv Sena (UBT)
Shinde’s Sena should support the Uddhav Thackeray-led camp’s candidate as a tribute to Bal Thackeray.
BJP and Maha Vikas Aghadi
The BJP, as an ally, should support their own candidate for the mayoral post.
- Category
- Open (Women)
- Number of Corporations
- 29
- ST Reserved Posts
- 1
- SC Reserved Posts
- 3 (2 for SC Women)
- OBC Reserved Posts
- 8 (4 for OBC Women)
- General Category (Women) Posts
- 9
- Open (General) Posts
- 8
- Frontrunners
- Rajashree Shirvadkar, Sheetal Gambhir, Asha Marathe, Harshita Narwekar, Ritu Tawde, Alka Kerkar
