Mumbai: In a historic development, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is witnessing an unprecedented phase of women-led leadership, marked by the appointment of Ashwini Bhide as its first woman Municipal Commissioner. The newly elected civic body, barely two months into its term, has seen women occupy several key leadership positions. Ritu Tawde, a BJP corporator from Ghatkopar, is serving as Mayor, while Kishori Pednekar represents the opposition as its leader from Shiv Sena (UBT).
In addition, crucial committee roles are also being helmed by women. Sandhya Doshi chairs the Improvement Committee, Rajashree Shirwadkar leads the Education Committee, and Trushna Vishwasrao heads the BEST Committee. Notably, in the 227 wards BMC, 135 are women corporators, which is more than 50%.
Further strengthening this leadership structure, the post of Municipal Secretary is held by Manjiri Deshpande.
Also Watch:
This rare consolidation of female leadership at the helm of India’s richest civic body marks a significant moment in Mumbai’s administrative landscape, highlighting a shift towards greater gender representation in governance.
Welcoming Bhide's appointment, Tawde called it a "matter of immense pride" for Mumbai. "This is not just an administrative milestone but a celebration of women's empowerment across the city. With Bhide's vast experience, particularly in executing major infrastructure projects like the Metro, and her disciplined approach, Mumbai's development will scale new heights," she said. "The coming together of a woman Mayor and a woman Commissioner strengthens the vision of building a smart and safe Mumbai," Tawde added.
While opposition leader Kishori Pednekar also spoke on the significance of the moment, stating that she herself is the first woman to hold the post. "Bhide has previously served in BMC as an additional commissioner and has always maintained a non-partisan approach. She never differentiated based on political affiliations," Pednekar said on Tuesday, adding that she had already extended her best wishes when discussions around Bhide's appointment were underway.
Speaking with the media after taking charge as the BMC commissioner, responding to remarks about her appointment, Bhide said that many have congratulated her for becoming the first woman commissioner, but there is nothing inherently different about it as the role remains the same, regardless of gender.
Bhide said BMC's primary role is delivering daily civic services to all Mumbaikars. "Mumbai's transport systems and overall security have been relatively supportive for women, which is reflected in the higher participation of women in the workforce. We will continue to work towards improving their safety and accessibility," the new commissioner assured.
To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/
