Shiv Sena candidate Vishwanath Mahadeshwar was elected as Mumbai’s mayor on Wednesday after a day-long drama ensued between Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party. After winning almost an equal number of seats in an acrimonious election between the parties, the BJP decided not to challenge the Sena for the Mayor’s post.
The Shiv Sena won a total of 84 out of 227 seats and BJP won 82, neither of them close to 114 needed to get the mayor’s post. After an alliance between the two and an independent candidate, this went to 167 seats.
There were reports circulating in the media that Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray was considering to end his party’s two-decade long partnership with the BJP in the state and at the centre. And the tension was evident between the two parties as the BMC hall was roaring with slogans in unison, “Modi Modi” and “Jai Bala Saheb”.
1. Mahadeshwar is a three-time Corporater from Santacruz.
2. In BMC 2017 elections, he defeated BJP’s candidate Krishna (Mahesh Parkar) from Ward No. 87 by 34 votes.
3. Mahadeshwar is also a School principal. He started Raje Sambhaji Vidyalaya for children living in the slum in his ward.
4. His wife Pooja Mahadeshwar is also a former Corporater from Ward No. 86.
5. Before the elections, he was involved in multiple controversies but denied his involvement in any of them. He resides in Sai Prasad Society in Golibar, Santacruz. Multiple media reports alleged that he had taken a house under the housing scheme for BMC employees but Mahadeshwar told the media that he is residing on a rented place and has an agreement with the owner. A second allegation stated that he was taking salary from the state government for his responsibilities as the school principal.
