Mumbai: Vishwanath Mahadeshwar will continue to be Mumbai’s mayor for at least more three months after the state Cabinet on Tuesday postponed elections for the positions of mayor and deputy mayor across 13 municipal corporations.
The decision has been taken keeping in mind the Assembly election, likely to be held in October this year. Moreover, the model code of conduct is likely to be come into effect once the election process is announced.
It is to be noted that the mayor and deputy mayor in Mumbai are appointed for a tenure of two and half years. Therefore, Mumbai was supposed to get a new mayor next month.
The Cabinet’s decision will not only impact the BMC but also 13 other municipal corporations, including the ones in Thane, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Pimpri-Chichwad, Solapur, Amaravati, Akola, and Ulhasnagar. Most of the municipal corporations are either held by the Bharatiya Janata Party or the Shiv Sena.
A corporator from Santacruz, Mr Mahadeshwar was appointed the Mayor after the civic elections in February 2017. Sena corporator from Worli-Koliwada Hemangi Worlikar was appointed deputy mayor.
Meanwhile, there are speculations that the BJP may ask for the deputy mayor’s post after Mr Mahadeshwar and Ms Worlikar demit office.
Between 2012 and 2017, Shiv Sena and the BJP shared power, with the latter holding the position of the deputy mayor.
