Ritu Tawde is set to become the next Mayor of Mumbai, marking a historic shift in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Announced on Saturday, February 7, 2026, by BJP leader Amit Satam, Tawde's appointment breaks the Shiv Sena's 25-year hold on the mayoral position. Sanjay Ghadi of Shiv Sena will serve as the deputy mayor. The official mayoral election is scheduled for February 11, but is largely seen as a formality due to the BJP–Shinde alliance's majority in the 227-member civic House.
Tawde is a two-time corporator from Ghatkopar, and previously served as the chairperson of the BMC's Education Committee. She began her political career in 2012 after joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), after leaving the Congress party. She represents Ward 132 and is known as a senior corporator and a prominent Marathi face within the party. Tawde has also been re-elected for a third consecutive term. Currently, Tawde serves as the Vice President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Mahila Morcha.
Her selection as mayor highlights the BJP's focus on providing greater representation to Mumbai's eastern suburbs. Despite being from the Maratha community, she has consistently won in a ward dominated by Gujarati voters, demonstrating her ability to connect with a diverse electorate. BJP leaders describe her as someone who is actively engaged at the grassroots level and is capable of addressing public grievances.
Tawde's appointment is historic on multiple fronts. For the first time in 25 years, the mayor's post will not be held by the Shiv Sena. She will be the first woman from the BJP to hold the position of Mayor of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. If Tawde wins, she would be the BJP's second mayor in Mumbai, after Prabhakar Pai, who was mayor from 1982 to 1983.
The BJP is confident that Tawde's appointment will bring a new direction to the BMC. Her experience as a corporator, combined with her administrative skills and focus on public interaction, have positioned her as a leader capable of addressing the challenges facing Mumbai. Her appointment is expected to usher in a new direction in the BMC.