Vishakha Raut Disqualified As Mumbai Corporator For 6 Years

Mumbai's former Mayor Vishakha Raut has been disqualified as a corporator for six years by the Maharashtra Government. This decision was made due to the cancellation of her OBC certificate by the Palghar Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee on August 21.

The Urban Development Department issued a disqualification order through a Government Resolution (GR) dated September 1, stating that Raut's disqualification under Section 16 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act has rendered her seat as a councillor vacant. As a result, the Maharashtra Government has disqualified her from being elected or serving as a councillor for six years, effective from August 20, 2026.

Raut represents the Dadar–Shivaji Park belt, where she won the BMC election by a narrow margin of 197 votes. Her victory was significant, as it was a straight political face-off against Priya Sarvankar, daughter of Shiv Sena (Shinde) former MLA Sada Sarvankar.

Raut is the fifth Opposition corporator to lose her seat over a caste certificate issue. However, hers is the first case in which the Urban Development Department has issued a direct disqualification order. Four other BMC corporators have already been disqualified after district scrutiny committees invalidated the caste certificates they used to contest reserved seats.

The civic house is likely to formally announce the disqualification on Monday. This move is seen as a major setback for the Shiv Sena (UBT) party, and it has turned into a prestige battle over retaining its grip on a key Shiv Sena stronghold.

The issue of caste certificate validation has been a contentious one in Mumbai's civic politics. Several corporators have been disqualified in recent times due to invalidation of their caste certificates. Raut's disqualification is likely to have significant implications for the Shiv Sena (UBT) party and its stronghold in the Dadar–Shivaji Park belt.

The Maharashtra Government's decision to disqualify Raut is based on the provisions of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act. The Act states that a corporator can be disqualified if they are found to have furnished false information or suppressed material facts in their nomination papers.

Raut's disqualification is a significant development in Mumbai's civic politics. It highlights the importance of verifying the authenticity of caste certificates and the need for transparency in the electoral process.

In conclusion, the disqualification of Vishakha Raut as a corporator for six years is a major setback for the Shiv Sena (UBT) party. It underscores the importance of adhering to the rules and regulations of the electoral process and the need for transparency in civic politics.