Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections have taken a dramatic political turn in central Mumbai with the return of the Gawli family to civic politics. Sisters Geeta Gawli and Yogita Gawli-Waghmare, daughters of former don-turned-politician Arun Gawli, have formally stepped into the fray from the Byculla region, signalling a bid to revive the family’s once-strong local influence.
Geeta Gawli, who has prior experience as an elected corporator, has filed her nomination from Ward 212 on the ticket of the Akhil Bharatiya Sena. Known for her earlier tenure in the civic body, her comeback is being viewed as a calculated move to reconnect with a traditional support base in Byculla. Her younger sister, Yogita Gawli-Waghmare, has entered electoral politics for the first time, filing her nomination from Ward 207 and marking the next generation’s political entry.
The Gawli surname has long been associated with Byculla’s political landscape. Arun Gawli, once a dominant figure in the area, had successfully converted his local clout into electoral success in the past. The sisters’ candidature has reopened discussions about whether the family can reclaim relevance amid a changed political environment and multi-cornered contests.
Adding complexity to the family’s political narrative is the role of their aunt, Vandana Gawli, who had won the Ward 207 seat in the 2012 BMC elections but failed to retain it in 2017. Her recent decision to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction has introduced new political equations within the extended family and the constituency.
The nomination process for the BMC polls, which began on December 23, has so far seen a cautious response across Mumbai. Although thousands of nomination forms have been distributed citywide, the actual filings remain limited. Election officials confirmed that only a handful of candidates have completed the process so far, with the Gawli sisters among the prominent early entrants.
With the final date for filing nominations set for December 30, political observers expect a surge of candidates in the coming days as major parties finalise their strategies. Voting for the BMC elections is scheduled for January 15, 2026, with results to be declared on January 16.
