Ritu Tawde: A short tenure, a growing list of tiffs

Ritu Tawde, a newly appointed Mayor of Mumbai, has been embroiled in numerous political battles since her tenure began six months ago. Her confrontations are not limited to the opposition parties, but also include her own party members and allies within the ruling Mahayuti coalition.

One of the first controversies to arise was when social media posts claimed that Mayor Tawde was wearing a luxury Rolex watch worth over Rs 1 crore. She dismissed these claims, stating the watch was a Michael Kors model given by her children. In March, attention shifted to the vehicle used by Tawde, which was adorned with red and blue flasher lights. These lights were subsequently removed as they were not permitted under rules governing the use of such beacons on government vehicles.

In April, Tawde faced criticism over her remarks at a Mahavir Jayanti event in Borivali. She spoke about recovering from a chronic throat ailment after prayers and blessings from a Jain religious leader, which drew criticism over alleged promotion of superstition. She later claimed her remarks had been misunderstood.

Tawde's political career predates her appointment as Mayor, with her political journey starting as a Congress member before joining the BJP in 2012. She has been a multiple term corporator and has been associated with the BMC's Education Committee. Her appointment as Mayor marked a shift in Mumbai's civic power structure, as the BJP returned to the Mayor's chair after more than four decades.

The Mayor's hands-on approach to civic matters, promising to take up issues ranging from civic infrastructure to unauthorised hawkers, drew her into more frequent and varied confrontations. The most recent controversy involves a proposal worth Rs 25.12 lakh concerning social media services for the Mayor's office. The proposal sought a one-year continuation of social media handling services without a tender process, which drew criticism from the opposition.

Tawde initially denied knowledge of the tender but later sought the removal of the BMC's Chief Public Relations Officer and the deployment of an Assistant Municipal Commissioner to oversee the department.