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BJP looking to oust Shiv Sena nominees from BMC trust

The BJP has demanded that Bandekar and actor Ashok Hande be removed from the Brihanmumbai Krida and Lalitkala Pratishthan — a BMC trust that runs civic facilities at Mulund's Kalidas Auditorium and the Andheri Sports Complex.

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Aadesh Bandekar
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In what is being seen as an attempt to take a dig at the Shiv Sena, the BJP wants to oust Sena leader and actor Aadesh Bandekar from a key civic trust.

The BJP has demanded that Bandekar and actor Ashok Hande be removed from the Brihanmumbai Krida and Lalitkala Pratishthan — a BMC trust that runs civic facilities at Mulund's Kalidas Auditorium and the Andheri Sports Complex.

The BJP wants local corporators to be part of the trust instead of the two celebrities. Interestingly, Bandekar is a Sena office bearer and known to be close to the Sena leadership. The demand has irked the Sena, which is a senior partner with the BJP in the BMC.

"The BMC must include local corporators in the trust since it is a BMC trust. The BMC spends all the money for the upkeep and revamp of the facilities that the trust runs. Local corporators know better about the demands and needs of the local residents. So, it will be better if local corporators, from any party, be included in the trust," said BJP corporator Prakash Gangadhare.

Gangadhare, who is a corporator from Mulund, raised the issue at a meeting of BMC group leaders last week. "The local corporator can be from any party but they should be part of the trust. What's the point of a BMC trust when corporators have no say in it? We are the trustees of the BMC and should have a say," Gangadhare said.

The trust oversees the functioning of the two facilities which houses auditoriums, swimming pools and gymnasiums. At the moment, the trust has the mayor, leader of opposition, municipal commissioner, additional commissioner and other senior civic officers on the board of trustees. Some seats are reserved for artists and sports persons. Bandekar and Hande are part of the trust as artists while Vicky Goraksha and Pradeep Dande are on the trust as sports persons.

A senior Sena leader said that the trust was formed by the BMC over 30 years ago. "There is a quota for artists and sportspersons on the trust. They (Bandekar and Hande) never asked to be made part of the trust. If the trustees have to be changed, then the BMC's resolution will have to be amended. The charity commissioner will have to be informed as well. Neither of them take any monetary compensation. In fact, they give so much time to the activities of the trust. They are here due to our love for art and culture," the leader said.

Bandekar could not be reached for comment.

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