Sharmila Pimplolkar Elected Thane’s 23rd Mayor, Becomes Fifth Woman to Hold Civic Office

Thane, Feb 2026 : Shiv Sena leader Sharmila Pimplolkar was elected as the 23rd Mayor of Thane on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in the city’s civic history. Elected unopposed, Pimplolkar became only the fifth woman to assume the prestigious mayoral post. Krishna Patil of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was also elected unopposed as the Deputy Mayor, with no rival nominations filed for either position.

The elections in Thane were part of a broader trend across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, as mayoral and deputy mayoral posts in Vasai–Virar, Mira–Bhayander, Kalyan–Dombivli and Ulhasnagar municipal corporations were also filled without contest. Political observers attributed the smooth process to the numerical dominance and coordination within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.

In Thane, the mayor’s post was reserved for a Scheduled Caste candidate. With the Shiv Sena commanding a strong majority of 75 corporators in the 131-member Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), Pimplolkar’s election was largely seen as a formality. A second-term corporator representing panel 20B from the Naupada–Kopri ward in Thane East, she emerged as the consensus candidate despite intense internal discussions within the party.

Addressing a large gathering of supporters after her election, Pimplolkar said she was both surprised and humbled by the responsibility entrusted to her. She credited her elevation to years of sustained grassroots work, the confidence shown by residents of her ward, and the unwavering support of fellow corporators and senior party leaders. She said her priority would be to ensure that civic governance remains responsive and inclusive.

In her victory speech, Pimplolkar dedicated her success to the Mahayuti alliance and to Shiv Sena leader and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. She praised Shinde for continuing the developmental legacy of his late mentor Anand Dighe, under whose leadership Thane earned its reputation as a stronghold of the Shiv Sena. She noted that Shinde had not only preserved this legacy but also strengthened the party’s position in the city.

“Thane has always been at the centre of Anand Dighe’s vision, and under Eknath Shinde’s leadership, that vision has translated into tangible development. We will work tirelessly to carry this momentum forward,” she said, adding that the saffron flag had once again been firmly planted over the civic body.

Pimplolkar also highlighted the growing role of women in local governance, pointing out that nearly 75 per cent of corporators in the Thane Municipal Corporation are women. She expressed optimism that women’s participation and leadership in civic administration would continue to rise, contributing to more inclusive decision-making.

Deputy Mayor Krishna Patil, a two-term corporator from ward 11D in the Uthalsar area, acknowledged the scale of challenges facing the city. He identified traffic congestion, water supply issues and parking shortages as key concerns and assured citizens that the new leadership would work in a planned and coordinated manner to address them.

Officials noted that this is the ninth elected board of the Thane Municipal Corporation since its establishment in 1986. The previous elected body’s term ended in March 2022, leading to nearly four years of administrative rule. With elected representatives now back at the helm, leaders of the Mahayuti alliance said civic governance would regain momentum, with renewed focus on infrastructure development, improved public services and citizen-centric administration as Thane enters its next phase of urban growth.