Tukaram Mundhe's way of functioning, especially not giving much time to parties, was always part of the discussion among the political fraternity.

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On various occasions, Mayor Sudhakar Sonwane accused that the civic chief does have respect for public representatives and he perceived every public representative as corrupt. An NCP corporator from Airoli mocked Mundhe's weekly meeting with residents of different nodes as a 'Walk with Mundhe'.

Even on the day of the special general body meeting, Sonawane said, "In a democracy, if you start behaving as if President's rule has been imposed, then you are insulting democracy. It's dictatorial to scrap decisions that have been taken by a body elected by people. We will not tolerate this."

Within one month of joining, Mundhe started meeting with residents to know the ground reality. "The 'Walk with Commissioner' campaign of Mundhe did not go well with political parties as corporators never did this in their own wards because they feared that this will send a wrong message about their image," said Rajeev Mishra, social activist.

Even, Belapur BJP MLA Manda Mhatre had shown displeasure on many occasions when Mundhe did not give much time to her. Mhatre had said that the commissioner does not have respect for MLAs. "How can common people expect something from him," Mhatre had said.

Political parties had even called a Navi Mumbai bandh over the functioning of Mundhe and demanded that he should be called back by the state government. Sonawane said, "The final decision of removal of Mundhe will be taken by the chief minister. He can accept or reject the general body decision."