The February 2012 civic election is still months away, but the Shiv Sena has received a blow already.
The February 2012 civic election is still months away, but the Shiv Sena has received a blow already.
Wards from which Shiv Sena’s top bosses — Sunil Prabhu, party leader in the BMC; Rahul Shewale, standing committee chairperson; and Sunil Shinde, BEST committee chairperson — were meant to contest have been reserved for scheduled tribe (ST) and scheduled caste (SC-women) candidates. This means, the party heavyweights can no longer stake claim for a term in the corporation from their respective wards.
The state election commission has reserved 13 of the 227 wards for SC (11) and ST (two) candidates.
Fifty per cent seats (113), including SC and ST, are reserved for women. Besides, 61 seats are for those from the people’s backward classes. There are just 77 wards for male candidates in the general category.
“The lottery to select the 50% women’s seats will be held on August 10 at Bandra’s Rangsharda hall on August 10,” said additional municipal commissioner Aseem Gupta. “There would be no change in the SC and ST seats. The number of seats is the same, but the constituencies are different.”
Though Shinde belongs to the ST, he cannot contest as his ward is reserved for SC women. MNS MLA Mangesh Sangale also won’t be able to contest the 2012 election. Of the 11 wards reserved for SCs, six are for women. And of the two wards for STs, one is reserved for women.
Sources said only one among Rakhi Jadhav (NCP), Rukmini Kharatmol (BJP), Presila Kadam (Congress) and Mangala Gaikwad (Congress) can contest from the same ward as it is reserved for SCs.
“In 2007 there were about 83,88,000 registered voters, while up to June 2011, the number has gone up to 99,99864. The number will increase further as the registration process is still on,”said an official from the BMC’s election department.
“There are at least 90 women corporators in the BMC. This number is possibly the highest among all municipal corporations in the country,” said a BJP corporator.
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