Mumbai : Several corporators across the parties have received a major setback ahead of the 2017 Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) elections as the State Election Commission on Monday announced revised reservations for all 227 wards across the city.
Many eminent and strong coroprators had high hopes to get their old wards back but the demlimitation and ward boundaries of around 80 per cent has affected corporators badly. Wards have been divided into as many as four parts, which means that now all the political parties will have to put in extra work and plan a strong strategy in the new boundaries.
One of the known politicians who has lost her ward is Mayor Snehal Ambekar (ward-194) whose ward Parel has been divided into two adjoining boundaries. However, there were chances of her to contest from ward 195 (Naigon- BDD Chawl) which has been revised to SC general category.
Yashodhar Phanse, Standing committee chairman (Shiv Sena), Sheetal Mhatre, corporator (Sena), Prakash Gangadhare, Iimprovement committee chairman (BJP), Dilip Patel, former leader of the MCGM (BJP), are among the affected corporators. BJP corporator Dr Ram Barot, whose ward is now reserved for a woman from the open category, and Vinod Shelar (BJP), whose ward is being reserved for Other Backward Castes candidates. Sandeep Deshpande, group leader of MNS, Pravin Chheda, opposition leader of the MCGM, (Congress), Bala Ambedkar, former opposition leader of the MCGM (Congress), Rayis Shaikh, (Samajwadi Party) are also affected in the new reservation system.
The politicians have to vacate their wards because- the wards are split into two to ensure the minimum requirement of 54,000 people per ward, and the wards are reserved for SC, ST and women candidates.
While talking to the Free Press Journal, Sheetal Mhatre, SS Corporator- R north Ward no. 2 (Gaondevi to Dahisar east), said, “My existing ward has been declared as an ‘open ward’ and a new ward no. 7 has been added as for ‘ladies’. For the time being, there is no planning as from where will I be contesting. The party chief will take a call on it. I have done a lot of work for my ward for which has been appreciated several times, so there is no fear of losing it.”
Prakash Gangadhare (BJP), chairman of the improvement committee in the civic body, said, “My ward 102 (Mulund Central) which is now declared as 107- (ladies), I have served the ward for five years and I’m waiting for my party to take a call on my candidature. I am sure that our party corporators will win in their respective wards.”
In BJP Corporator Dilip Patel’s case, his ward no. 63 (Juhu) is now ward no. 69 (ladies). He says, “I will be contesting the elections from my old ward – 52 (Goregaon) which is reserved for OBC general now (ward- 55) where I have served for 15 years from 1997-2012.”
Bala Ambedkar’s case, his ward no. 57 (Amboli hill – Andheri) has been split into three. “Ward numbers 62, 63 and 64 are the new wards. I’m speechless at present and we will plan out a strategy to find a ward for contesting.”
Pravin Chheda’s ward no.124, (Ghatkopar) has been split into four. “I will contest from ward no. 132 (Shastri nagar- Kamla Raman nagar). There are around 22,000 voters in the ward and I am confident about my winning as I have contested last four elections from that ward.”
Samajwadi Party leader Rayis Shaikh has decided to contest from ward 139 (Ghatkopar). He says, “I will make a come back.”
MNS leader Sandip Deshpande (ward No. 185, Shivaji Park) will have to vacate his ward as it has now been reserved for women candidates. “For us problems have come from all around as all MNS wards have gone for reserved categories. The party will take a final call on it as we have worked hard for the city and we are confident about our win.”
