BMC polls: Kishori Pednekar, Neil Somaiya and Samadhan Sarvankar among key candidates with massive spike in assets

Her declaration includes immovable assets valued at Rs 4.6 crore and movable assets valued at Rs 57 lakh. In addition, Pednekar has declared ownership of gold jewellery amounting to Rs 8.46 lakh in her name and Rs 6.2 lakh in her husband’s name. The affidavit form also shows that she owns three vehicles under her name, while her husband owns one.

Pednekar became the mayor in 2019. She joined the undivided Shiv Sena in the early 2000s and, following the party’s split, remained with the Sena (UBT). This year, she will be contesting the elections for the fourth time from her ward.

Samadhan Sarvankar, a candidate contesting for the second time from ward number 194 in Mumbai’s Worli under a Shiv Sena ticket, has reported a significant increase in his assets. According to the declaration submitted by Sarvankar, his asset valuation currently stands at Rs 46.59 crore, an increase of 394 per cent from 2017, when his assets were valued at Rs 9.43 crore. The affidavit also shows that, of the total assets, approximately Rs 40 crore is declared as immovable property.

From 2017 to 2022, he served as the corporator for this ward, representing the undivided Shiv Sena. After the party split, he joined the Eknath Shinde faction. Samadhan is the son of senior Shiv Sena leader Sada Sarvankar, who represented the Dadar constituency as an MLA until 2024.

Yamini Jadhav, who is running for election from ward number 209 in Mazgaon on a Shiv Sena ticket, has reported a 40 per cent increase in her assets over the past year and a half. During the Assembly elections in November 2024, she declared her assets to be Rs 10.10 crore. Her current asset declaration stands at Rs 14.57 crore, which includes immovable properties worth Rs 11.28 crore.

Jadhav served as the MLA for Byculla until 2024. Before that, she was a corporator from 2012 to 2017. Her husband Yeshwant Jadhav is a four-time corporator who has represented the undivided Shiv Sena. From 2018 to 2022, he also served as the chairperson of the BMC’s standing committee. Following the party split in 2022, both Jadhav and her husband joined the Shinde faction of the Sena.

Key BJP candidates and their assets surge

Prabhakar Shinde, a senior BJP leader, reported a significant increase in his assets. His affidavit revealed a 45 per cent rise, with his total wealth growing from Rs 11.9 crore in 2017 to Rs 17.63 crore this year. Shinde, who has been elected as a corporator from Mulund five times, is now campaigning for his sixth term.

Another contestant from the BJP, Neil Somaiya, reported a significant increase in his assets, with a remarkable 400 per cent rise, going from Rs 1.99 crore in 2017 to Rs 9.89 crore this year. His affidavit reveals that he has declared immovable assets worth Rs 4.16 crore and movable assets worth Rs 5.72 crore. Neil, who is seeking a second term this year, is the son of former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya.

Tejasvee Ghosalkar of the BJP has declared assets worth Rs 5.15 crore in her name, a significant increase from Rs 25.82 lakh in 2017. Having previously represented the undivided Shiv Sena, Tejasvee is now seeking a second term this year. She joined the BJP just a month before the election.

Tejasvee is the wife of Abhishekh Ghosalkar, who was shot in his office by political adversary Mauris Noronha. She is also the daughter-in-law of Vinod Ghosalkar, who served as MLA for Dahisar during the undivided Sena era.

Congress candidate Sheetal Mhatre, contesting from ward number 1 (Dahisar), has declared assets worth Rs 4.27 crore, compared to Rs 17.29 lakh in the last civic polls.

Geeta Gawli, the daughter of former legislator Arun Gawli, has declared assets worth Rs 7.26 crore. This marks an increase of nearly 100 per cent from her previous declaration of Rs 3.38 crore made during the 2019 Assembly elections.