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BJP’s mayoral bid recalls lone mayor 40 years ago

In 1982, the then leader of the BJP in the Corporation, was chosen as the 53rd Mayor of Mumbai, a position he held from 1982 to 1983, becoming the BJP’s first mayor in the city.

5 min readMumbaiUpdated: Jan 21, 2026 01:44 PM IST

Pai held several key municipal positions. He was also President of the Bandra District Congress. Pai formally joined the BJP at its inception in 1980. (Express Photo)

With the Bharatiya Janata Party emerging as the dominant political force in the recently held Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, a large part of the public believe that the party could install its ‘first’ mayor in Mumbai. Unbeknownst to them, nearly four decades ago, in a very different political landscape shaped by post Emergency alliances, the city had already seen a BJP mayor in the form of Dr Prabhakar Sanjiv Pai, who held the post barely three years after the party was formally founded in 1980.

How the ground for a BJP mayor was set

The circumstances that enabled a BJP mayor in Mumbai were shaped by the political churn following the imposition of the Emergency in 1975 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The period saw the formation of the Janata Party in 1977 as a broad anti Congress coalition. One of its key constituents was the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the ideological and organisational predecessor of the BJP. Jana Sangh leaders merged into the Janata Party rather than forming a separate party.

At the height of the Janata Party’s popularity, elections to the Bombay Municipal Corporation were held in 1978. In the previous 1973 polls, the civic body had been dominated by the Congress with 45 seats and the Shiv Sena with 39. The 1978 verdict dramatically altered this balance.

The Janata Party won 83 of the 140 seats, relegating the Congress and the Shiv Sena to 25 and 21 seats respectively. This unprecedented mandate ushered in a phase where socialist leaders occupied the mayor’s post. Following the formal formation of the BJP in 1980, power sharing arrangements with the Janata Party opened the door for BJP representation in the civic leadership.

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In 1982, Dr Pai, then the leader of the BJP in the Corporation, was chosen as the 53rd Mayor of Mumbai, a position he held from 1982 to 1983, becoming the BJP’s first mayor in the city.

Who was Dr Prabhakar Sanjiv Pai

Born on June 9, 1936, in the village of Barkur in Karnataka, Pai moved to Mumbai at the age of 14. After completing his studies in Ayurveda and earning his doctorate, he began medical practice at a small clinic in the Bandra West shopping centre on Hill Road.

Pai joined the Public Health Department of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Bombay, where he served for 13 years until 1968. That year marked the start of his long municipal career when he was elected councillor from Ward No 100 TPS III Pali Hill Bandra. He represented the constituency continuously from 1968 to 1984.

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Initially associated with the Congress, Pai held several key municipal positions. He was also President of the Bandra District Congress. Pai formally joined the BJP at its inception in 1980.

Mayor and beyond

As mayor, Pai represented Mumbai at several international forums, including conferences in Japan, the USSR, Europe and Southeast Asia, and was elected Vice President of the World Congress of Local Governments in Yokohama.

One of his enduring legacies was the Zhunka Bhakar Trust, a scheme aimed at providing subsidised food to the urban poor. Decades later, a similar idea was adopted by the Shiv Sena BJP government after it came to power in 1995, offering zunka bhakar, a traditional Maharashtrian meal of jowar bhakri and gram flour curry, at a highly subsidised rate of Rs 1 per plate for daily wage workers migrants and unemployed youth.

Exit from politics

While Pai completed his tenure as mayor, associates say he later fell victim to internal rivalries within the BJP.

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“With the traction that the party was getting in the late 80s there were internal rivalries inside the party for domination. Dr Pai with his gentlemanly behaviour seemed to have not been accustomed to this style of functioning and gradually retired from active politics,” an old time associate from the Janata Party who did not wish to be named said.

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Old timers also suggest that threats were issued to Pai by internal party rivals to discourage him from attending party meetings.

Life after politics

After stepping away from active politics, Pai remained socially engaged. He set up the Janata Education Society Bandra East, which runs Purushottam High School educating thousands of students, and the Janata Seva Sangh, a public charitable trust that continues his vision of medical relief education, food seva and cultural programmes.

“In spite of his imposing stature he was a loving human being who always imbibed in people around him including us to strive toward positively impacting the lives of those who are less fortunate,” said his daughter Dr Kavita Pai Vas, who now heads the Janata Seva Sangh.

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Dr Pai passed away in 2020 aged 84. In October 2025, his daughter Dr Kavita Pai Vas wrote to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis requesting that a road in Bandra be named after him. A decision on this is yet to be taken by the state.

Zeeshan Shaikh

Zeeshan Shaikh is the Associate Editor who heads The Indian Express' Mumbai reporting team. He is recognized for his highly specialized Expertise in analyzing the complex dynamics of Maharashtra politics and critical minority issues, providing in-depth, nuanced, and Trustworthy reports. Expertise Senior Editorial Role: As an Associate Editor leading the Mumbai reporting team, Zeeshan Shaikh holds a position of significant Authority and journalistic responsibility at a leading national newspaper. Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on two interconnected, high-impact areas: Maharashtra Politics & Urban Power Structures: Provides deep-dive analyses into political strategies, municipal elections (e.g., BMC polls), the history of alliances (e.g., Shiv Sena's shifting partners), and the changing demographics that influence civic power in Mumbai. Minority Issues and Socio-Political Trends: Excels in coverage of the Muslim community's representation in power, demographic shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the historical context of sensitive political and cultural issues (e.g., the 'Vande Mataram' debate's roots in the BMC). Investigative Depth: His articles frequently delve into the historical roots and contemporary consequences of major events, ranging from the rise of extremist groups in specific villages (e.g., Borivali-Padgha) to the long-term collapse of established political parties (e.g., Congress in Mumbai). Trustworthiness & Credibility Data-Driven Analysis: Zeeshan's work often incorporates empirical data, such as National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics on arrests and convictions of minorities, or data on asset growth of politicians, grounding his reports in factual evidence. Focus on Hinterland Issues: While based in Mumbai, he maintains a wide lens, covering issues affecting the state's hinterlands, including water crises, infrastructure delays, and the plight of marginalized communities (e.g., manual scavengers). Institutional Affiliation: His senior position at The Indian Express—a publication known for its tradition of rigorous political and investigative journalism—underscores the high level of editorial vetting and Trustworthiness of his reports. He tweets @zeeshansahafi ... Read More

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