Weeks after results of elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) were announced, Mumbai has got a new mayor – Sujata Suraj Patil, the BJP leader who was elected for the top post after it was reserved for a woman from the general category through a lottery system.
The category for the mayor’s post was decided through a draw of lots held by the state Urban Development Department, which determined that Mumbai’s mayor would be a woman from the general category, clearing the way for Patil’s election, news agency PTI reported.
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Who is Sujata Suraj Patil?
Sujata Suraj Patil is a BJP corporator and the wife of Suraj Patil, a senior party loyalist from Navi Mumbai known for his strong grassroots influence. She is a second-time corporator, making her relatively new compared to other senior contenders in the party.
With the mayor’s post reserved for women, BJP leader Ganesh Naik picked Sujata Patil over more experienced party leaders, which meant loyalty and trust played a key role in her selection. The decision surprised even many BJP corporators, HT.com earlier reported.
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The BJP enjoys a clear majority in the civic body, holding 89 seats, while its ally, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, has 29, comfortably crossing the halfway mark needed to control the corporation.
Opposition parties, including the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, criticised the lottery process, claiming it was unfair and fixed, with these allegations being rejected by the state government, as per the PTI report.
Sujata Patil’s election marks another shift in Mumbai’s civic politics, ending hopes of a comeback for the Shiv Sena (UBT), which ruled the city for over two decades.
As mayor, Sujata Patil is all set to preside over key civic decisions in India’s richest municipal body, with expectations high on governance, infrastructure and everyday city services.
(With inputs from PTI)