BJP corporator removed from Vadodara civic body’s standing committee due to ‘prolonged absence’

“Thereafter, he has not attended a single Standing Committee meeting till date. As per Section 22 of the GPMC Act, a member of the Standing Committee who remains absent from the meetings (for specific periods) shall have to vacate his seat… Therefore, since Bandish Shah has remained absent for a continuous period of two months, he ceases to be a member of the Standing Committee,” the letter states.

Section 22 of the Act provides that a Standing Committee member loses their seat if they “(are absent) during two successive months from the meeting of the Committee, except on account of temporary illness or other cause to be approved by the Committee…”. According to VMC officials, Shah had allegedly not sought such approval.

Desai’s letter also cites the subsequent clause under Section 22, which says a member who “absents himself from, or is unable to attend the meetings of the Committee during four successive months from any cause whatever, whether approved by the Committee or not, shall cease to be a member of the Standing Committee and his seat shall thereupon be vacant”.

Desai told The Indian Express that Shah’s cessation was a procedural requirement. “As per the provisions of the Act, which are sacrosanct, the individual is deemed to cease to be a member of the Standing Committee due to unauthorised absence for a period of two months,” he said.

Shah, meanwhile, claimed he had kept both the party and the Standing Committee informed about his absence due to his father’s failing health. “My father is 91 and my mother is 85. My father has undergone hospitalisation recently after a stroke. Due to his deteriorating health and dementia, I have been busy attending to him and taking him for his medical appointments that coincide with the timing of the Standing Committee meetings. Being the only one in the family who can attend to him at this time, I have already informed the Standing Committee Chairman about my absence, and I was assured that it will be considered,” he said.

Shah said his removal was ultimately the party’s call. Stating that he received the notice of his removal via WhatsApp, he added, “I believe they (Standing Committee members) would have informed the Party President about the decision and it ought to have been the party’s decision too… I am a leader of the party and so I accept it. I have always worked for the people in my own capacity.”