India, Feb. 8 -- The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Marathi manoos push, designed after the Thackeray cousins joined forces ahead of the civic body elections, was on Saturday reflected in its mayoral pick in 52-year-old Ritu Rajesh Tawde, a corporator from Ghatkopar's ward 132.

In fact, it is Tawde's Konkani-Marathi background that spring-boarded her for the mayoral post - a position already reserved for a woman from the open category -- although the party had several other options, said BJP's Mumbai president Ameet Satam. "Apart from her Marathi background, she is also a second-time corporator and has served as our Mahila Morcha president. We wanted to reach out to the Marathi manoos, particularly those who are Konkani and Malvani speak...