Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Jun 19: A Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator in Mumbai has been disqualified after a caste scrutiny committee invalidated his caste certificate, resulting in his seat in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) being declared vacant.
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde announced during the BMC general body meeting on Thursday that the membership of corporator Deepak Sawant from Ward No. 111 in Kanjurmarg had been terminated following the committee's decision.
She informed the House that the civic administration had received a copy of the order issued by the caste scrutiny committee invalidating Sawant's caste certificate.
Sawant was elected from Ward No. 111, a constituency reserved for candidates belonging to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. Officials said his membership ceased after the District Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee in Ratnagiri ruled his caste certificate invalid.
With Sawant's disqualification, the strength of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) in the civic body has come down from 65 to 64 members.
In a related development, AIMIM corporator Shameer Ramzan Patel, who was elected from Ward No. 137 in Govandi, has also faced a similar setback. Patel had contested from a seat reserved for the OBC category, and his caste certificate was reportedly invalidated by the caste scrutiny committee in Ahilyanagar district.
The developments could have political implications within the civic body, particularly as parties prepare for future local body elections.