In a move that sets the stage for Mumbai’s fiercest civic battle in years, the BJP has appointed three-term Andheri West MLA Ameet Satam as its new Mumbai unit president. Known for his relentless focus on civic issues and corruption, Satam takes charge from Ashish Shelar at a crucial time, just months ahead of the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, where control of Asia’s richest civic body and its Rs 74,000 crore annual budget is up for grabs.

On Monday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan, announced that the three-term MLA from Andheri West will replace Ashish Shelar as the city unit chief. The move comes just ahead of crucial BMC elections, expected by late 2025 or early 2026. Satam has been vocal about corruption in road works, delays in the Gokhale bridge project, and redevelopment hurdles around the airport caused by height restrictions, among other civic concerns.

Fadnavis said the party had performed well under Shelar’s leadership in both Assembly and Lok Sabha polls. “As Shelar now has ministerial responsibilities, the decision to appoint a new president for the Mumbai unit was taken by the state party unit,” he explained. Expressing confidence in Satam’s leadership, Fadnavis added, “BJP will continue to grow stronger, especially in the BMC elections.”