BJP to Get First Mumbai Mayor, Ritu Tawde Files Nomination

The BJP is set to install its first mayor in Mumbai, ending the Thackeray's 25-year dominance in the civic body, with party corporator Ritu Tawde filing her nomination for the election to the top post on Saturday. 

Shiv Sena, the saffron party's ally in the Mahayuti, has declared Sanjay Ghadi as its candidate for the deputy mayor's post. 

Tawde and Ghadi filed their nominations at the municipal secretary's office in the presence of Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, BJP's Mumbai unit chief Amit Satam, former Shiv Sena MP Rahul Shewale,



and other leaders of Mahayuti.

Ghadi, a corporator from Ward 5, will serve as deputy mayor for 15 months, Shiv Sena secretary Sanjay More has said in a statement.

 He was one of the senior Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators who switched sides to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. By splitting the deputy mayor's term in Mumbai, the Shiv Sena intends to give opportunities to four more of its corporators. 

Elections will be held on February 11, which is also the last day of withdrawing the nominations.