Shiv Sena's Vishwanath Mahadeshwar elected as Mumbai Mayor with BJP backing

Mumbai: Shiv Sena's Vishwanath Mahadeshwar was on Wednesday elected as the Mayor of Mumbai with the support of the BJP.

He is the 76th mayor of the city and the 56-year-old third-time corporator has earlier served as Chairman of BMC's education committee and was also a member of the standing committee.

Mahadeshwar defeated Congress nominee Vitthal Lokare by 171-31 margin.

Corporators of the Raj Thackeray-led MNS did not turn up to the House for the elections. Those from the NCP and SP refrained from backing either of the contestants.

While 16 corporators remained neutral, eight remained absent and one from AIMIM abstained from voting though he was present in the House.

On the election of new Mayor, Aaditya Thackeray, president, Yuva Sena, tweeted:

Today is a historic moment as rarely has any city as huge as Mumbai entrusted a Party for 5th consecutive time, as single largest to run it — Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) March 8, 2017

Extremely humbled and proud to have witnessed the @ShivSena Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Mumbai take their official seat #MCGM #Mumbai #BMC — Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) March 8, 2017

Yet we thank all who helped us knowingly, unknowingly..especially those who voted mayoral candidate without us asking or negotiating for it — Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) March 8, 2017

His election was a foregone conclusion with the BJP last week announcing that it would not contest for the post, despite finishing a close second to the Sena in the bitterly fought polls, which even cast a shadow on the stability of the Devendra Fadnavis ministry.

However, on March 04, Chief Minister Fadnavis had made it clear that the decision of the BJP should not be read as a "surrender" to ensure stability of his government.

"The people of Mumbai voted overwhelmingly for the BJP as they believed in our agenda of transparency in the civic administration. Shiv Sena emerged as the single largest party while we were two seats behind them. We did not get the numbers to have a Mayor of our own," Fadnavis had told reporters at his official bungalow, as per PTI.

"BJP will also not contest elections for the post of Deputy Mayor and for the standing, improvement, education committees as well as for posts of chairpersons in the BEST committee," the CM had said.

"The party's 82 corporators will be 'watchdogs' of transparency in the civic administration," Fadnavis had added.

 As the BJP has 82 corporators in the BMC, it will get equal representation in the standing, education, improvement and BEST committees.

At that time, Shiv Sena had welcomed BJP's stand and had said that it was thankful to the CM for respecting the sentiments of people.

"We welcome the BJP's stand and are thankful to the Chief Minister that he finally understood and respected the sentiments of people, who are are with the Sena and support the party," Shiv Sena Minister Diwakar Raote had said.

(With PTI inputs)