Ritu Tawde: Mumbai's New Mayor and Her Historic Appointment

• Ritu Tawde is set to become Mumbai's new mayor, marking a historic shift as the post returns to an elected representative after four years and moves away from Shiv Sena's two-decade dominance.
• Her appointment is historic because a lottery determined the mayor would be a woman from the general category, narrowing the field of contenders.
• Tawde is a three-term corporator with over a decade of experience, having served as chairperson of the Education Committee and vice chairperson of the Improvements Committee.
• She has a strong focus on social welfare, women's empowerment, skill development, and community initiatives, including during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Tawde's nomination is seen as a strategic move by the BJP-Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) alliance, which holds a decisive majority in the BMC.