BJP’s Ritu Tawde was elected as the Mumbai Mayor unopposed on Wednesday. It is the first time in four decades that BMC‘s Mayor has been chosen from the BJP, ending the Thackeray family’s 25-year dominance over India’s richest civic body. For the past 25 years, the Mayor used to be from the Shiv Sena as the undivided Thackeray-family led Shiv Sena was in commanding position in the BMC. Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde also witnessed the proceedings from the gallery. The budget for the 2025-2026 was Rs 74,450 crore.
Tawde, began her journey at the ward level, where she contested for civic elections. She has experience in education policy, public services, urban infrastructure and civic administration. Tawde has also played an important role within Mahila Morcha. BMC elections were conducted on January 15, 2026 and results were released on January 16, 2026. In the polls to 227-member civic body, the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats, whereas its ally Shiv Sena, won 29 seats. BJP-led Mahayuti secured 118 seats. The Shiv Sena (UBT) won 65 seats and its allies the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar), won six and one seat, respectively.
