Big blow to opposition in BMC, former mayor Vishakha Raut is likely to lose seat

The opposition faces a major setback in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) as former mayor Vishakha Raut, a senior Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator, may lose her seat following the invalidation of her Other Backward Caste (OBC) certificate by the caste verification committee in Palghar. Raut represents the influential 191 ward, encompassing Shivaji Park and Dadar west belt.

Despite her narrow victory over Priya Sarvankar, a candidate backed by the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, in January's election by a margin of 167 votes, Raut's OBC certificate has now been invalidated due to incorrect jurisdiction. The civic election department will announce her disqualification once the caste scrutiny committee submits its report.

Raut has accused the committee of working under pressure from the ruling Mahayuti alliance, claiming her papers were accurate. With her OBC certificate declared invalid, Raut now has the option to approach higher authorities for a stay on the order. Until then, her opponent, who finished second in the elections, will likely be appointed as the corporator.

If Raut's appointment is confirmed by the courts, she could regain her position as a corporator, or else a new corporator will be elected through by-elections. This move marks the fifth disqualification of an opposition corporator since June, with previous cases involving Deepak Sawant, Sameer Ramzan Patel, and two more corporators from the AIMIM and NCP parties.