Ritu Tawde Named Mumbai Mayor Candidate

BJP set to get its first-ever mayor in BMC as Mahayuti finalises top civic posts

February 7, 2026: The Mahayuti alliance on Saturday announced BJP leader Ritu Tawde as its candidate for the post of Mumbai mayor, while Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Shankar Ghadi has been named the nominee for Deputy Mayor. This marks a historic moment for the Bharatiya Janata Party, as it is set to have its first-ever mayor in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) following the recent municipal election results.

Ritu Tawde, a senior BJP leader, has been elected as a corporator for the third consecutive term. She was first elected in 2012 from Ward No. 127 and later won from Ghatkopar’s Ward No. 121 in 2017. In the 2025 elections, she secured victory from Ward No. 132. Tawde has earlier served as Chairperson of the BMC’s Education Committee and is currently the Vice President of the Maharashtra BJP Mahila Morcha. Known for her grassroots connect, she has built a strong political base in a Gujarati-dominated ward despite belonging to the Maratha community.

Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) named Sanjay Shankar Ghadi as its candidate for Deputy Mayor on the directions of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. In the BMC elections, the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats, while the Shiv Sena secured 29 seats. With their combined strength, the Mahayuti alliance is close to a majority, making it widely expected that the Mayor’s post would go to the BJP and the Deputy Mayor’s position to the Shiv Sena.