Priya Gurav Demands Disqualification of Dadar Corporator Vishakha Raut

Shiv Sena leader Priya Gurav met Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) chief Ashwini Bhide on Tuesday to demand the disqualification of Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator and former Mumbai mayor Vishakha Raut. Gurav alleged that Raut contested from an OBC-reserved ward in Dadar using an invalid Kunbi caste certificate during the 2026 civic elections.

In a formal representation submitted to Bhide, Gurav referred to an August 21 order issued by the Palghar District Caste Verification Committee. The caste scrutiny committee cancelled Raut’s OBC certificate following a complaint that alleged the document was invalid. Gurav stated that she had received a copy of the panel's order via email and requested civic authorities to initiate disqualification proceedings based on the finding.

Gurav, who is the daughter of former Sena MLA Sada Sarvankar, contested against Raut from Ward 191 in Dadar during the 2026 BMC polls. The ward was designated as a reserved constituency for women from the Other Backward Classes category. Raut submitted the OBC certificate to establish her eligibility to contest the seat.

The electoral contest in the politically significant Dadar–Shivaji Park area proved to be one of the tightest in the election cycle. Raut managed to retain the seat for Shiv Sena (UBT) by securing 13,236 votes, defeating Gurav, who secured 13,039 votes. The final margin of victory was 197 votes.

Responding to the committee's decision, Raut alleged that the cancellation of her caste certificate was carried out under political pressure from the Shiv Sena. She maintained that she belongs to the OBC category and highlighted that her family’s ancestral village is located in Palghar district.