By Admin 
BMC Elections 2026: Municipal elections are going on in Maharashtra and Delhi will also get its new mayor in April. Change of mayor is expected soon in both Mumbai and Delhi. In such a situation, the comparison between India’s two largest civic bodies has once again become a topic of discussion. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi are often described as powerful urban institutions. But let us tell you that there is a huge difference in the financial strength of these two. Let us know who is richer between BMC and MCD and who is more powerful among the mayors of both.
A big difference in the assets of BMC and MCD
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is by far the richest civic body in India and even Asia. BMC’s budget for the financial year 2025-26 is shocking. This budget is of ₹74,427 crore. This is not only bigger than the municipal budget of Delhi but also bigger than the annual budget of many Indian states.
In comparison, Municipal Corporation of Delhi has presented a budget of approximately ₹16,530 crore for 2026-27. After municipal integration of Delhi, the financial capacity of MCD is much less than that of Mumbai. Simply put, BMC is four times richer than MCD.
Bigger budget means more powerful mayor
Actually it is not so at all. In both Mumbai and Delhi, the mayor does not have executive power, no matter how rich the civic body is. The Mayor is primarily the political and ceremonial head of the corporation and not the administrative one. In Mumbai, even though BMC may not have much funds, the real executive authority lies with the Municipal Commissioner. He is usually a senior IAS officer appointed by the state government. The Commissioner controls finance, administration, project execution and staff.
Power structure in MCD of Delhi
Delhi also follows a similar model. Municipal Commissioner is the most powerful in MCD. It has executive, financial and administrative authority. The mayor presides over the meetings of the corporation and also leads the city. The position of the Mayor of Delhi is further weakened by a short tenure of one year and multiple layers of standing committee and approval.
So what is the role of the mayor?
In both cities, mayors set the agenda and create representation and political identity rather than direct governance. The Mayor presides over House meetings, manages debates, leads the city as the city’s first citizen, and performs ceremonial duties such as welcoming the President, Prime Minister or foreign guests.
Also read: The budget of Mumbai Municipal Corporation is more than that of how many states of the country? The figures will blow your mind