Vishakha Raut's BMC Seat At Risk After OBC Certificate Cancellation

Former Mayor and Shiv Sena (UBT) senior corporator Vishakha Raut is on the verge of losing her BMC seat after the Palghar Caste Scrutiny Committee cancelled her Other Backward Class (OBC) certificate. The decision was made on Friday following a complaint against the validity of her certificate.

Raut's election from OBC-reserved Ward 191 in Dadar is now under threat. She has rejected the challenge to her OBC status, stating that her family's ancestral village is located in Palghar district. The order is expected to reach the BMC by Monday, paving the way for formal action against her corporator post.

Raut represents the politically significant Dadar–Shivaji Park area, where she retained the seat for Shiv Sena (UBT) in a tightly fought contest against Priya Sarvankar. She secured 13,236 votes, defeating Sarvankar by a narrow margin of 197 votes. The contest was closely watched as only two candidates were in the fray, leaving virtually no scope for vote-splitting.

Raut has stated that she will appeal the caste scrutiny committee's order before the Konkan Bhavan Commissioner within the stipulated three-month period. She may also consider moving court depending on the outcome of the appeal.

This development comes after four other BMC corporators have already been disqualified over invalid caste certificates. The disqualified corporators include Shiv Sena (UBT) Deepak Sawant, AIMIM's Sameer Ramzan Patel and Roshan Shaikh, and NCP's Bushra Nadeem Malik. Several of them have taken the matter to court.

The cancellation of Raut's OBC certificate is a significant development in the BMC, highlighting the importance of verifying caste certificates for reserved seats. The BMC elections saw several closely contested seats, with the Dadar ward being one of the most notable.

The Palghar Caste Scrutiny Committee's decision is expected to have implications for the Shiv Sena (UBT) party, which has been facing challenges in the BMC. Raut's potential disqualification could lead to a by-election in the ward, which could have significant consequences for the party.

In the meantime, Raut has vowed to fight the decision, stating that she will explore all available options to retain her seat. The outcome of her appeal and potential court case will be closely watched, as it could have significant implications for the BMC and the Shiv Sena (UBT) party.

The cancellation of Raut's OBC certificate is a reminder of the importance of ensuring the validity of caste certificates for reserved seats. The BMC and other authorities must take steps to verify the authenticity of these certificates to prevent such disputes from arising in the future.

In conclusion, the cancellation of Vishakha Raut's OBC certificate has put her BMC seat at risk, highlighting the importance of verifying caste certificates for reserved seats. The outcome of her appeal and potential court case will be closely watched, as it could have significant implications for the BMC and the Shiv Sena (UBT) party.