With the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections scheduled for January 15, 2026, the mandatory affidavits filed by candidates have unveiled a startling trend: a dramatic escalation in personal wealth among prominent contenders. The disclosures, spanning major political factions including the Shiv Sena groups led by Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray (UBT), the BJP, and the Congress, show asset increases as high as 400 percent compared to declarations from the 2017 civic polls.
Shiv Sena Faction Candidates Lead Wealth Surge
Kishori Pednekar, the former mayor and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader contesting from Ward 199 (Lower Parel), has reported a 226 percent rise in her assets. Her current declared wealth stands at Rs 5.26 crore, a significant jump from Rs 1.61 crore in 2017. This includes immovable property worth Rs 4.6 crore and movable assets valued at Rs 57 lakh. Pednekar, who became mayor in 2019, is vying for a fourth term from her constituency.
In a striking revelation, Samadhan Sarvankar, contesting on a Shiv Sena ticket from Worli's Ward 194, has declared assets worth Rs 46.59 crore. This marks an astronomical increase of 394 percent from his 2017 declaration of Rs 9.43 crore. A significant portion, approximately Rs 40 crore, is attributed to immovable property. Sarvankar, a former corporator, has aligned with the Shinde faction post the party split.
Another notable candidate from the Shinde camp, Yamini Jadhav (Ward 209, Mazgaon), has seen her assets grow by 40 percent in just over a year and a half. From Rs 10.10 crore declared during the November 2024 Assembly polls, her wealth now totals Rs 14.57 crore, including immovable properties worth Rs 11.28 crore. Both she and her husband, former standing committee chairperson Yeshwant Jadhav, joined the Shinde faction after the split.
BJP Contestants Show Remarkable Financial Growth
The affidavits of BJP candidates also depict substantial wealth accumulation. Senior leader Prabhakar Shinde, seeking a sixth term from Mulund, reported a 45 percent increase, with assets rising from Rs 11.9 crore to Rs 17.63 crore.
However, the most dramatic rise within the BJP is seen in the case of Neil Somaiya, son of former MP Kirit Somaiya. His declared assets have skyrocketed by 400 percent, from Rs 1.99 crore in 2017 to Rs 9.89 crore in the current affidavit. This comprises immovable assets worth Rs 4.16 crore and movable assets of Rs 5.72 crore as he campaigns for a second term.
Tejasvee Ghosalkar, who joined the BJP just a month before the polls, declared assets worth Rs 5.15 crore in her name—a massive leap from Rs 25.82 lakh in 2017. She is the wife of Abhishekh Ghosalkar and daughter-in-law of former MLA Vinod Ghosalkar.
Congress and Independent Contenders
The trend extends beyond the Shiv Sena and BJP. Congress candidate Sheetal Mhatre, contesting from Dahisar's Ward 1, has declared assets worth Rs 4.27 crore, a substantial increase from Rs 17.29 lakh in the last civic polls.
Furthermore, Geeta Gawli, daughter of former legislator Arun Gawli, reported assets valued at Rs 7.26 crore. This is nearly a 100 percent increase from her declaration of Rs 3.38 crore made during the 2019 Assembly elections.
The affidavits, made public just days before Mumbai heads to the polls, provide a crucial financial snapshot of the candidates vying to govern India's richest municipal corporation. The data underscores significant wealth growth across the political spectrum, setting the stage for a highly scrutinized election where governance and personal prosperity will be under the public lens.
