Maha govt changes rule for appointing presiding officer in BMC mayor elections, stirs political row

The race for the post of mayor of the Brihamumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), India’s richest civic body, has taken an important turn after the Maharashtra government amended the rules for the mayoral election process. The decision has changed the political equation in the battle for control of the BMC.

The move came soon after Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief Uddhav Thackeray claimed that his party would secure the mayor’s post. In response, the Mahayuti government, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, issued a notification changing the long-followed procedure of electing the mayor.

Earlier, the first meeting of the BMC was chaired by the outgoing mayor or, if unavailable, by the senior most corporator until a new mayor was elected. Since the BMC’s term ended nearly three years ago, the outgoing mayor could not preside over the meeting. Under the old rules, senior corporator Shraddha Jadhav from the Thackeray faction was expected to act as the presiding officer, which could have given the opposition an advantage during the election.

However, under the new rules, the mayoral election will now be conducted by a senior state government officer of secretary rank or above. As per the notification, Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani will preside over the election process. The revised rules also state that the newly elected mayor will not chair the election of the deputy mayor.

Political experts believe the rule change is aimed at preventing procedural control from going to the Uddhav faction, especially after the split in the Shiv Sena. The decision has sparked political tension, and opposition parties are expected to protest during the first meeting of the BMC.

The amended rules are likely to make it legally and technically more difficult for the Thackeray group to gain control of the BMC, setting the stage for a closely watched and politically charged mayoral election.