BJP MLA’s kin may be next mayor

Mumbai: After winning the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) elections with a thumping majority,  the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is now looking to finalise the name for the mayoral post.

While elections to appoint the new mayor will be held on August, 28, the first two-and-half year tenure of the post is reserved for women under the Other Backward Caste (OBC) category. Several names are already doing the rounds for the key post.

BJP legislator Narendra Mehta’s sister-in-law Dimple Mehta, who is said to be the front runner for the post, is a two-time corporator and was also the chairperson of the women’s and child welfare panel.

There are nine other women BJP corporators who represent the OBC category. However, most of them are first-time members and imports who had defected to the BJP from other political parties before the elections.  

Among the heavyweight imports are Prabhat Patil who has an unbeaten track record of getting elected for the sixth consecutive term and two-time corporator Vandana Mangesh Patil who was earlier elected on an NCP ticket and later defected to the BJP. Known to be an aggressive and studious corporator, Prabhat Patil joined BJP from Congress.

Meanwhile, the local BJP members are of the opinion that the party’s selection for the mayoral post should be based on experience and seniority to ensure smooth implementation of the party’s agenda and all round development of the twin-city.