India, Feb. 8 -- Keeping with its promise of appointing a Marathi mayor in Mumbai, the Mahayuti alliance on Saturday chose Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporator Ritu Tawde as its candidate for the post, while Sanjay Ghadi from the Shiv Sena was nominated for deputy mayor. The two nominations were filed at the municipal secretary's office at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters.

Amid cheers and suspense, Tawde's candidature was announced by the BJP's Mumbai president, Ameet Satam, while Ghadi's name was declared by former Shiv Sena MP Rahul Shewale at the BJP's newly occupied office in the south wing of the BMC's heritage building.

The announcements were marked by Vedic chants and the blowing of a conch, symbolisin...