BMC marks 3 years without elected representatives: Does it matter?

MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)—India’s richest civic body— on March 7, marked three consecutive years without elected representatives.
The term of the last elected BMC corporators ended in March 2022, and since then, the civic body has been under an administrator—only for the second time in its 140-plus-year history.
The first instance occurred in the early 1980s during the tenure of former BMC chief D.M. Sukthankar, when municipal elections were postponed, and the state government appointed the municipal commissioner as the 'administrator,' vesting him with all powers of the corporators. However, this lasted for only 15 months, from April 1984 to July 1985.
Former Congress corporator Sheetal Mhatre describes corporators as the direct link between citizens and the civic administration. "An elected house ensures democracy at the local level. Citizens choose their representatives, who then work to improve their wards based on public needs. Decentralization is key to good governance as it allows for faster decision-making, better resource allocation, and greater accountability," Mhatre said.
With municipal elections nowhere in sight for at least a few more months, does the absence of corporators make a difference? Without elected representatives to raise public grievances, how do citizens navigate the system, access civic officials, or push for local issues?
At a recent public discussion organized by Vidhi – Centre for Legal Policy on Mumbai’s fight for its open spaces, veteran civic activist Nayana Kathpalia noted that while former corporators remain active, they hold no official authority. "They are prompt and engaged, but officers are not bound to act on their instructions the way they would if they were elected representatives," she said.
Former Matunga corporator Nehal Shah believes that an elected house in the BMC is not just important—it is indispensable for effective civic governance.
"Mumbai’s citizens deserve a say in how their city is run, and that can only happen when corporators—elected by the people—are in place to voice concerns and shape policies accordingly. Every day, residents complain to us about handcart vendors occupying various locations in the area. The number of hawkers is increasing rapidly in Mumbai, leaving no space on footpaths for commuters. If the house had elected representatives, there would be monthly ward committee meetings where administrative officers would be required to respond to our Point of Order with detailed reports. Currently, there is no accountability or transparency," Shah said.
With three years of no debates, deliberations, or ward-level accountability, the question remains: Is the system functioning without elected representatives, or are Mumbaikars missing their political bridge to the BMC?
Former Goregaon corporator Sandeep Patel, whose father, Dilip Patel, was also a corporator, believes the absence of elected representatives has left a gap in addressing people’s concerns at the grassroots level. "An elected house ensures checks and balances on taxpayer money. However, despite being out of office, I remain actively involved in public work, even on weekends and public holidays," he said.
Harshita Narwekar, who was elected to the BMC from the Cuffe Parade area in 2017, feels that every neighborhood has its unique challenges, and without corporators, residents struggle to get timely resolutions. "The absence of direct representation means slower response times, more bureaucratic hurdles, and a lack of local advocacy. Citizens don’t have a dedicated representative to escalate concerns, track progress, and ensure accountability," Narwekar said.
She also pointed out that crucial decisions regarding Mumbai’s infrastructure, development, and services are currently being made without citizen representatives actively participating. "This weakens public trust and civic engagement. Without an elected body, decision-making becomes bureaucratic and often disconnected from ground realities," she added.
BJP leader Rakesh Coelho, vice president of the party’s North West district, emphasized that running a city like Mumbai is no small feat. "This city has one of the largest municipal budgets in the world compared to other megacities. An elected house, with democratically chosen representatives who scrutinize budgets and oversee their implementation, is essential," Coelho said.