Mumbai’s civic election battle in Byculla took a sharper turn on Friday as sisters Geeta Gawli and Yogita Gawli-Waghmare formally entered the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election race, marking the return of the Gawli family to frontline municipal politics.

Geeta Gawli, a former corporator with prior experience in the BMC, submitted her nomination from Ward 212 under the banner of the Akhil Bharatiya Sena. Her younger sister, Yogita Gawli-Waghmare, filed her papers from Ward 207, making her electoral debut and signalling the next generation of the family’s political ambitions.

Geeta’s comeback is being closely watched, as she had earlier secured a decisive win from Ward 212 in the 2017 civic polls. Her re-entry is widely seen as an effort to regain the family’s traditional influence in Byculla, a pocket of central Mumbai where the Gawlis once held significant sway in local politics.

Yogita’s candidacy adds a fresh dimension to the contest. While she is new to electoral politics, her entry strengthens the family’s presence across neighbouring wards, setting the stage for a coordinated campaign in the area.

The Gawli family’s political journey in Mumbai has seen several twists over the years. Their aunt, Vandana Gawli, had represented Ward 207 after winning the 2012 BMC elections but failed to retain the seat in 2017. Her decision earlier this year to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction has further complicated the family’s political narrative.

The BMC nomination process, which began on December 23, has witnessed a gradual buildup. Election officials said nomination paper distribution has been brisk, though actual filings are expected to peak closer to the deadline. With the Gawli sisters’ entry, the Byculla contest is now shaping up to be one of the most closely fought civic battles in Mumbai.