Shiv Sena's Shubha Raul was elected as the Mayor of the BMC. Raul secured 117 votes while Congress candidate Shital Mhatre managed 100 votes.
On Saturday, Mumbai got its new mayor — 40-year-old Borivali-based Ayurveda doctor, Shubha Raul — the fourth of the city’s 76 mayors till date to hold the post. And she got a demand list from her daughter.
Tenth standard student Tanvi, Raul’s 15-year-old daughter, lists five things she wants her mother to do: improve city roads; increase water supply; provide special Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport facilities and beautify tourist spots.
Tanvi had an SSC paper to appear for on Monday, but that did not stop her from participating in her mother’s victory march. An elated Tanvi told DNA, “My mother was always confident of a victory. In the morning, she told me, ‘I will win my battle, you win yours; fare well in the exams.’”
The Raul family — husband Umesh, a horticultural manager with ONGC, daughters Tanvi and 12-year-old Mayuri — along with relatives and close friends were present at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), for the mayoral elections.
“It was like attending a family wedding function. We were confident of a victory and came all dressed up,” said Raul’s mother-in-law Yashodhara. Husband Umesh said, “Shubha was always interested in social work. She joined the Shiv Sena in 1998.”
Amid much fanfare and colour, the BMC voted for the Sena candidate, who was the favourite for the post. Raul defeated Congress candidate, architect Sheetal Mhatre by 17 votes; while Raul managed 117 votes, Mhatre garnered only 100
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) candidate, Vidya Thakur, a four-time corporator from Malad, was elected deputy mayor. She defeated the Nationalist Congress Party’s Bharati Pisal by an identical margin of 17 votes.
In view of a bomb threat received by the civic administration, the BMC made stringent security arrangements at the venue. Eight Samajwadi Party councillors staged a walkout, protesting against the candidature of both mayoral candidates.
Clean Mumbai, safe Mumbai
After being elected Mumbai’s Mayor on Saturday, Shubha Raul spoke to DNA.
Slogan for the city: Clean Mumbai, safe Mumbai.
On the coming monsoon: We will clean drains to prevent clogging and resultant flooding during the monsoons. We want to ensure Mumbai does not get waterlogged during the rain.
Priorities over the next 100 days: Raise issues about garbage collection, with special emphasis on clearance of proposals for additional landfill sites; address the issue of traffic jams and bottlenecks; beautify Mumbai; beef-up facilities at suburban hospitals; introduce Ayurveda in city hospitals; and instill discipline in Mumbaikars, to avoid spitting and littering on roads.
Long-term proposals: I will insist on more funds from the Centre. Taxes collected from Mumbai should be ploughed back into infrastructure for the city.
Women’s issues: I will help ensure women (widows and single) do not find it difficult to procure occupation certificates. I will help increase employment opportunities for women.
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