Giving a jolt to BJP, which is in the majority at the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC), the state government’s Urban Development Ministry headed by Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde halted the selection of four co-opted corporators who were elected in the general body meeting held on Monday. Three co-opted corporators were from BJP while one from Congress Party. However, the form of Shiv Sena candidate declared invalid giving a reason.
The Urban Development Department (UDD), has issued an order on Wednesday in which it also invalids the formation of various committees. On Tuesday, MLA Geeta Jain has filed a complaint in the Ministry and demanded the action. She demanded the scrapping of both the resolutions (number 31 and 35) under section 451 (1) of Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, 1949.
While resolutions mooting names of BJP candidates -Anil Bhosale, Bhagwati Sharma, Ajit Patil and Adv. S.A Khan (Congress) had cleared the decks in the general body meeting held via video conferencing on Monday, the candidature of Shiv Sena’s- Vikram Pratap Singh hit the roadblock due to alleged charges of conflict of interest.
Apart from nominating co-opted corporators, various civic committees are formed according to the strength commanded by each party in the general body house.
What they say
Recently, Geeta Jain entered the Shiv Sena, but ironically her name continues to fare in the list of BJP corporators. “BJP is misusing its majority in MBMC. Its behaviour is illegal as well as unconstitutional.”
However, Mayor Jyotsana Hasnale also replied that Shiv Sena is misusing its power. “The party will discuss the recent development in a meeting and then the further decision will be taken accordingly,” she said.
After the new body came into existence in 2017, it took more than three years for the MBMC to complete the process of nominating members.
However, expert says that its unconstitutional to elect co-opt corporators after three and a half years. “Why to nominate the corporators after three and a half years? The Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act says that nominated members should be elected within 30 days of the formation of the newly-elected corporators or municipal elections,” said P L Chaturvedi, senior journalist and political commentator.
“There is also a rule to whom the elected corporators should be nominated as a co-opted member. Is it being followed completely? Political parties should raise their voices and protest. However, they are two sides of the same coin,” said Chaturvedi.
Nevertheless, he supported the state government decision of staying the nominated members’ selection.