AIMIM corporator disqualified for ‘invalid’ caste certificate; Shiv Sena likely to get BMC seat

Earlier, the Bombay High Court had granted Patel interim relief against action on his candidature. However, after the scrutiny committee submitted its findings, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde announced his disqualification on Monday.

According to civic sources, Shiv Sena candidate Ayesha Rafique Shaikh, who finished behind Patel in the election, is likely to be declared the winner for the seat.
Patel’s disqualification reduces AIMIM’s strength in the BMC from nine to eight, while the ruling Mahayuti alliance’s tally is expected to rise to 120.

“The Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act does not provide for a by-election in such cases. If a corporator is disqualified, the candidate who secured the next highest number of votes is declared elected. The formal appointment is to be announced by the High Court,” an official told The Indian Express.

BMC officer suspended for protocol violation

In a separate development, the BMC’s law committee unanimously passed a resolution recommending the suspension of protocol officer Sandeep Lalge for an alleged protocol violation during the inauguration of the Mumbai Public School at Liberty Garden.

The issue was raised by BJP corporator Tejinder Singh Tiwana, who claimed that despite being the local corporator, his name was omitted from the inauguration plaque.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Tiwana said that when the official was questioned about the omission, he allegedly responded in a disrespectful manner, prompting the committee to move the proposal for his suspension.

“The issue was not limited to an individual’s grievance but concerned the dignity of democratic institutions,” Tiwana said during the committee meet