Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former BMC Corporator Tejasvee Abhishek Ghosalkar joins BJP
Tejaswi Ghosalkar officially joined the BJP during a function held at the party’s Mumbai office at 10 am today.
The former corporator, who is the widow of late Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Abhishek Ghosalkar, hails from the politically influential Ghosalkar family. Abhishek Ghosalkar was tragically murdered in his office by a person named Maurice Bhai.
Tejaswi’s father-in-law, senior Shiv Sena UBT leader and former MLA Vinod Ghosalkar, has long-standing political ties with the Thackeray family dating back to the Balasaheb Thackeray era.
The Ghosalkar family has historically wielded significant influence in North Mumbai, including constituencies like Dahisar and Magathane, also represented by Union Minister Piyush Goyal. Tejaswi’s departure from the Shivsena UBT just ahead of the BMC elections is seen as a major setback for the party, potentially giving the BJP an electoral advantage in areas traditionally dominated by the Ghosalkars.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections are likely to be held between January 12 and 18, 2026, after eight long years.
The Supreme Court of India has directed the State Election Commission to complete all local body elections by January 31, 2026, as elections are due to be held since 2022. The estimated budget of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for 2025-26 is Rs. 74,427 crore and expenditure stands at Rs. 43,162 crore, representing 58% of the total budget allocated to development projects. This massive budget is unmatched by any other state or municipal corporation in the country and reinforces the BMC’s status as Asia’s richest civic body.
As Mumbai is the financial capital of India, the BMC plays a critical role in governance by overseeing essential services and infrastructure, including health, roads, water supply, transport, energy, education and sanitation.
