BMC polls: Assembly speaker's brother richest candidate; 35% of candidates crorepatis
BMC elections reveal a stark wealth divide among candidates. Makrand Narwekar, brother of the state assembly speaker, leads with Rs 124 crore in assets, a significant jump from previous elections. Many contenders are crorepatis, while others, like a pan vendor and a rickshaw driver, highlight their commitment to public service despite modest means.
Image: X@/MNarwekar
MUMBAI: BJP candidate Makrand Narwekar, brother of state assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar, is among the richest candidates in the forthcoming BMC elections, with assets worth Rs 124 crore declared in his affidavit.The 47-year-old two-time corporator, listed as an advocate in his affidavit, purchased 27 land parcels in Alibaug between Oct 2022 and Nov 2025. “Everything is shown in my affidavit. I would only like to say this is a live example of India shining,” he told TOI .
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With infrastructure projects such as the Atal Setu, RoRo ferry to Alibaug, the value of these holdings has suddenly gone up, said Narwekar, whose assets were listed as Rs 6.32 crore in 2017 and Rs 3.67 crore in 2012.Around 35% of the candidates contesting the BMC elections are crorepatis. His sister-in-law Harshita Narwekar, who is contesting from ward 225, has declared assets worth Rs 63.62 crore — up from Rs 10.74 crore in 2017. Close behind is Sana Abbas Qureshi with Rs 60.3 crore. Contesting from Kalina on a Samajwadi Party ticket, Qureshi says the collapse of the area pushed her into politics.“This is my first election,” she said. “My family runs schools.
But I realised that if you want change, you cannot only complain — you have to be a part of it.” Every lane, she says, carries its own catalogue of neglect. “Sanitation is a mess. Toilets don’t even have doors. We need better hospitals, better schools. The problems are visible everywhere,” she added.Another affidavit drawing attention is that of Samadhan Sarvankar, son of former MLA Sada Sarvankar, who is seeking a second term as corporator.
Sarvankar has declared assets of Rs 46.59 crore, up from Rs 9.43 crore he reported in 2017. Of this, Rs 40.59 crore is listed under immovable assets. Meanwhile, his sister, Priya Sarvankar, who is contesting from Dadar Shivaji Park, has declared assets of Rs 12.16 crore. Former mayor Shraddha Jadhav, the first female mayor from the Shiv Sena from 2009-2012, has assets worth Rs.
46.34 crore.Independent candidate Ashok Gupta, a pan vendor from Bandra, has declared assets of Rs 1.6 crore.
Gupta says he worked for years for Sharad Pawar’s party but was denied a ticket, prompting him to contest as an independent. “I want to work to make Mumbai a better city,” says Gupta, who assets include an SRA house worth Rs 1 crore, some savings and his wife’s jewellery.And then, there are candidates like Khandu Nana Khandekar, a rickshaw driver from Mankhurd–Govandi, whose affidavit carries no such heft. “When auto drivers stand for elections, they go door-to-door touching people’s feet,” he said. “But after they get elected, they behave like kings. I am not like that. I will never become that. So, people will vote for me.”