BMC Disqualifies AIMIM Corporator Roshan Shaikh Over Invalid OBC Certificate
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has disqualified AIMIM corporator Roshan Shaikh from ward number 138 in the M-East ward of Mumbai. The disqualification followed a decision by the District Caste Certificate Verification Committee, which declared her Other Backward Classes (OBC) caste certificate invalid.
This development marks the third time in two months that an opposition corporator in the BMC has lost their membership over caste certificate issues.
Last month, Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Deepak Sawant, who was elected from ward number 111 in the S-Ward in Bhandup, and AIMIM corporator Sameer Ramzan Patel, who was elected from ward number 137 in Govandi, were also disqualified. Their caste certificates, which were submitted with their nomination papers for the civic elections, were similarly invalidated by the verification committee.
With the disqualification of Patel and now Shaikh, the AIMIM’s strength in the BMC may be reduced to six members.
The disqualification has prompted legal action. Irfan Shaikh, the husband of Roshan Shaikh, questioned the timing of the BMC's decision. He stated that they have already moved the Bombay High Court, which has scheduled a hearing for July 27. He expressed concern over the haste of the BMC's action while the legal process was ongoing.
An AIMIM member confirmed that appeals are currently pending in both the small causes court and the Bombay High Court for both of the party's disqualified corporators. The party remains hopeful that the court decisions will be in their favour, allowing them to remain corporators.
According to the party member, the party is not immediately affected as their numbers remain sufficient to have representation in the standing committee. However, if the courts decide against the two corporators, the party could face a shortage in numbers and a potential problem in the ward committee.
Additionally, a veteran corporator pointed out that when a corporator is disqualified, the candidate who secured the second-highest number of votes may be declared elected by the court if they choose to approach it.
