Sena's Prabhu elected Mumbai mayor

Mumbai, Mar 9: Shiv Sena Corporator Sunil Prabhu was elected mayor of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, India's richest civic body. At the elections held at the civic headquarters here, Prabhu polled 125 votes, defeating Sunil More of Congress, who secured 65 votes in the 227-member body.

BJP's Mohan Mithbavkar was elected Deputy Mayor, defeating NCP corporator Khan Haroon Yusuf. Prabhu, 42, is among the youngest Mayors of Mumbai. Following is the party position in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after the February 16 polls: Total seats 227 -- BJP 31, Congress 52, NCP 13, Shiv Sena 75, MNS 28 and others 28.

Though the Sena-BJP-RPI alliance was short of halfway mark (114) in the country's richest municipal body, the bloc managed to muster the required number with the support of Independents and others.

The two members of the Arun Gawli-led Akhil Bharatiya Sena also backed the Sena-led combine. Mumbai had two women Mayors over the last five years owing to reservations, and this time, the post is under the open category.

The Mayor's post, though largely ceremonial, is considered to be prestigious. The clout the post brings with it is a major reason why corporators lobby hard to vie for becoming Mumbai's first citizen.

PTI