Sharmila Pimplolkar elected Thane mayor as civic body returns to elected rule after four years

Ending four years of bureaucratic administration, Sharmila Pimplolkar of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena was on Tuesday elected unopposed as the 23rd Mayor of Thane at a special general body meeting of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC). BJP corporator Krishna Patil was simultaneously elected Deputy Mayor , with both posts witnessing no contest.

The election formally marked the restoration of an elected leadership in the civic body, which had been under a state-appointed administrator since March 2022 following the expiry of the previous corporators’ term.

No rival nominations were filed for either post, clearing the way for the unopposed election of the Sena–BJP candidates. Leaders of the ruling Mahayuti alliance said the two parties had agreed on a rotation formula to manage internal aspirations, under which the Mayor and Deputy Mayor will serve 15-month tenures . The arrangement is aimed at allowing up to four corporators from the alliance to occupy each position over the full term of the corporation.

Celebrations followed the election at the civic headquarters, where women dressed in traditional Maharashtrian attire performed a lezim dance . A large statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj , installed above the entrance corridor of the TMC building, also drew attention from corporators, officials and visitors.

The Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) is the single largest party in the 131-member TMC with 75 corporators , while its ally BJP holds 28 seats . The remaining strength is divided among the NCP (SP), NCP, AIMIM, Shiv Sena (UBT) and an Independent member who supports the ruling alliance.

Though largely a ceremonial post , the Mayor is regarded as the first citizen of the city and presides over meetings of the municipal corporation, represents the city at official events and plays a key role in shaping political discussions on civic issues, budgets and development proposals. Executive authority, including project implementation and control over civic officials, rests with the Municipal Commissioner , an IAS officer appointed by the state government.

The development in Thane stands in contrast to Mumbai , where the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been without an elected mayor since 2022 and continues to be run by an administrator amid delays in civic elections. Control of the mayor’s post in Thane is therefore being seen as politically significant, especially as parties prepare for a future contest for Mumbai’s powerful civic body.