As Zohran Mamdani makes history in NYC, netizens ask why Bengaluru and Mumbai without elected mayors for years?

While Zohran Mamdani made history on November 4 by becoming New York City’s first Muslim mayor-elect—and its youngest since 1917—many in India are questioning the leadership in their own major cities.

Metro cities like Bengaluru and Mumbai have been without elected mayors for years.

Bengaluru, known for its active citizen groups and online campaigns, has not held a municipal election in over five years. The last Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) polls took place in 2015, and the council’s term officially ended in September 2020. Since then, decision-making has largely fallen to Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister DK Shivakumar and state-appointed bureaucrats.

Similarly, Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)—India’s largest and wealthiest civic body—has been under administrative rule since 2022. The BMC, which manages a budget larger than some smaller states and oversees 227 wards, last held elections in 2017. Despite these massive budgets—Mumbai’s Rs 74,427.41 crore for 2025–26 and Bengaluru’s Rs 19,930 crore—both cities continue to face citizen complaints over infrastructure and governance.

Public frustration grows online

Citizens have taken to social media to express their frustration. Ramesh Srivats wrote on X, “Quick. Tell me the name of the mayor of your city. Tick tock. No idea? Let’s talk about Zohran Mamdani instead.”

Others highlighted the long absence of local leadership. Nikhil Ramesh noted that Bengaluru hasn’t had local body elections in 10 years, while Ayush Nadimpalli emphasized that even cities larger than New York, like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad, lack visible mayoral leadership. Marwan Nizamuddin asked, “New York City got its mayor. When is Bengaluru gonna get its mayor?”

Administrative rule persists

Without elected representatives, city council meetings—where local issues are debated—are not being held. Civic budgets are now presented by bureaucrats without public consultation.

Upcoming elections

Bengaluru may finally see elections in February 2026. Under the new Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), which replaced the BBMP’s 198 wards with five corporations and 368 wards, municipal polls are expected following the publication of the ward delimitation draft in September 2025.

In Maharashtra, the State Election Commission has announced that polls for 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats will be held on December 2, after several years of administrative rule delayed by a Supreme Court case.