Mahadeshwar’s term to end on Nov 21, BMC starts process to elect new mayor

“The lottery will be held by the state urban development department after the new government is formed. We are expecting this to happen after November 10. The current mayor’s tenure will end on November 21 and the new mayor has to be elected on November 22,” an official from the Municipal Secretary department said.

Mahadeshwar, who was elected in March 2017 when the seat was in the open category, got an extension due to the Assembly election. His two-and-a-half-year term was scheduled to end in the first week of September. Before Mahadeshwar, Snehal Ambekar was the mayor since the seat was reserved for SC women.

In the recently-concluded Assembly election, Mahadeshwar had contested Bandra East constituency but was defeated by Congress candidate Zeeshan Siddique.

BMC officials said only one corporator from Khar Danda, Sanjay Agaldare, falls under the ST men category. On the other hand, if the seat is reserved for ST women, then Pratima Khoparde, the corporator from Versova, is likely to be the new mayor. “For OBC and general category, there are many candidates in the fray,” said an official.

The Sena leader is waiting for the parameters of the lottery to be decided “As of now, there is no clarity on what the reservation will be. If it is reserved for ST, then we know who the candidates are. Only in the case of OBC and general candidates will we have to deliberate,” said a senior Sena corporator.