Satam Appointed As Mumbai BJP Chief Ahead Of Crucial BMC Polls

Satam replaces Ashish Shelar, who completes three years in the post in his second stint as Mumbai BJP chief this month. Shelar is also a minister of the information technology and cultural affairs portfolios in the Mahayuti government.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “With Shelar having taken on ministerial responsibilities in the cabinet, it was necessary to appoint a new president for the Mumbai unit. Following discussions at the state level led by (Maharashtra BJP) president Ravindra Chavan and senior leaders, Ameet Satam has been chosen for the post,” Fadnavis said.

The CM expressed confidence that Satam’s appointment will help the party gain control of the BMC. “Satam is known for his aggressive and studious leadership and has shouldered many organisational responsibilities. He is familiar with the pressing issues of Mumbai and has demonstrated the ability to tackle them effectively. I’m confident that under his leadership, the BJP will maintain its winning momentum in the upcoming civic elections,” he added.

Satam promised to prioritise the safety and security of Mumbaikars and safeguard the city’s identity. “The safety and security of Mumbaikars is our top priority. While the city continues to develop, our focus will be on ensuring the well-being and protection of its citizens. We will work towards hoisting the Mahayuti’s saffron flag atop the BMC and ensuring that a Mahayuti mayor is elected,” he said.

Satam, who hails from the coastal Konkan belt, is a three-time MLA from Andheri West in Mumbai. According to political observers, BJP’s move to appoint a Marathi-speaking man from Konkan belt as the city chief is a move to counter the ‘son of the soil’ agenda of Shiv Sena (UBT), which enjoys a huge clout among the people in Mumbai from the coastal region.

However, Satam faces a stiff challenge to emulate Shelar, who too was from Konkan. During the previous BMC elections, Shelar had led the party as Mumbai BJP president. The party recorded its best-ever performance in the civic body polls, clinching 82 of Mumbai’s 277 wards, just two short of the then undivided Shiv Sena under Uddhav Thackeray. Under Shelar’s leadership, BJP achieved significant success in Mumbai during the Vidhan Sabha elections.