Vishakha Raut has alleged political vendetta
Mumbai: The BMC general body meeting on Monday began with mayor Ritu Tawde announcing that former mayor and Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Vishakha Raut’s membership of the civic House stood cancelled with effect from Aug 20. Raut had contested from Ward 191 in Dadar, which was reserved for women from the OBC category, on a Shiv Sena (UBT) ticket. Meanwhile, information obtained by RTI activist Anil Galgali from the BMC shows that 79 election petitions have been filed challenging the election of various corporators, indicating that Raut’s case is not an isolated challenge to the recently elected civic body. The party-wise breakup shows that Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators face the highest number of election petitions, with 24 cases filed against their elections. The BJP follows with 16 petitions, while Congress corporators face 10.
Raut said the political vendetta is clear, and it is a message to other opposition corporators as well. The development comes after the Palghar Caste Scrutiny Committee invalidated the OBC certificate submitted by Raut while contesting the BMC election. “If someone as senior as me can be disqualified, no one is safe. I was never approached with any offer from the ruling side. But it does make me wonder—had I given in and joined the ruling camp, would the outcome have been the same? Raut is now the fifth corporator to be disqualified.