BJP names Ritu Tawde as Mumbai Mayor candidate, Shiv Sena picks Sanjay Ghadi for deputy post

BJP nominates Ritu Tawde for Mumbai mayor, while Shiv Sena selects Sanjay Ghadi as deputy mayor for 15 months.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday (February 7, 2026) nominated corporator Ritu Tawade for the Mumbai Mayor election, while its ally Shiv Sena declared Sanjay Ghadi as its candidate for the Deputy Mayor's post.

BJP leader Amit Satam declared Ms. Tawade's name, while Shiv Sena leader Rahul Shewale announced Mr. Ghadi's candidature at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters.

Ms. Tawade is a corporator from Ward 132, while Mr. Ghadi was elected from Ward 5 in the January 15 civic election.

Mr. Ghadi will serve as deputy mayor for 15 months, Shiv Sena secretary Sanjay More has said in a statement. He was one of the senior former 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 an opportunity to four of its corporators.

In the polls to the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats, while Shiv Sena won 29 seats. The ruling alliance, with a combined strength of 118 corporators, is past the halfway mark of 114 and is well placed to secure the mayor's post.