BMC Election 2026: BJP’s ‘Mission Mumbai’ Hits A Roadblock; Resentment Brews As Loyal Gujarati Women Leaders Denied Tickets
[By Sapna Desai Mumbai Samachar Desk]
Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata Party, which governs both Maharashtra and the Centre, has set its sights firmly on capturing the Mumbai Municipal Corporation. The party is making an all-out effort to secure an absolute majority in the BMC and install its own mayor. However, the denial of tickets to several former women corporators who played crucial roles in helping BJP win Gujarati-dominated wards in the 2017 municipal elections could prove costly in this year’s polls.
Many loyal women workers who had sought party tickets have been overlooked in favor of candidates who recently switched from rival parties. This treatment of long-time supporters could severely undermine BJP’s “Mission BMC” ambitions.
Key Women Leaders Left Out
Among the Gujarati women leaders denied tickets are former corporators and ticket aspirants including Neela Rathod, Hemal Thakkar, Phalguni Dave, Bindu Trivedi, and Nehal Shah. Their exclusion has caused significant resentment within party ranks.
The Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections, being held nearly four years after the term expired, see BJP aiming for complete control. However, senior party leaders privately acknowledge concerns that disgruntled women workers could become obstacles in achieving power.
Gujarati Strongholds at Stake
Western suburbs from Malad to Dahisar, including Ville Parle and Santacruz, along with Ghatkopar in the eastern suburbs, have substantial Gujarati populations. In the 2017 elections, several Gujarati women won from these areas, helping BJP become the second-largest party after Shiv Sena. These women continued working in their constituencies even after the term ended in 2022, maintaining connections with residents. Despite this dedication, many former corporators have been denied renomination.
Reasons Behind Ticket Denials
The ticket cancellations are attributed to last-minute joiners from other parties who switched to BJP and secured nominations. Additionally, some seats became reserved categories, while others were given to alliance partner Shinde Sena as part of seat-sharing arrangements, resulting in denials for BJP’s women aspirants.
Ward-Wise Impact
In Ghatkopar’s Ward 130, former corporator Bindu Trivedi lost her ticket after the ward became reserved. The party nominated Dharmesh Giri instead. Trivedi requested a ticket from Ward 132 but was ignored.
Ward 132’s sitting corporator became a legislator, and his seat went to Ritu Tavde. This disappointed Gujarati aspirants including Dimple Pandya, Phalguni Dave, and Preeti Upadhyay, who had sought tickets. In Ward 177 Wadala, former corporator Nehal Shah has announced she will contest independently after being denied a ticket.
Read More: BMC Elections 2026 : Only 22 Gujaratis And Marwaris Field In Civic Body Election
In Gujarati-dominated Borivali’s Ward 17, former corporator Bina Doshi was replaced with Shilpa Sangore. Ward 36 Kandivali saw Daksha Patel’s ticket given to Siddesh Sharma, while Ward 35’s Sejal Patel was replaced by Yogesh Verma. Similarly, Minal Patel from Ward 217 and Jyotsana Mehta from Ward 219 had their tickets cancelled in favor of other candidates.