Former MLAs to contest BMC polls

Mumbai: Its not just newcomers, but even the former MLAs are nursing the ambition of entering the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) as a corporator. Perhaps for the first time, as many as, three ex-MLAs have thrown their hat in the ring of BMC polls.

Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs Atul Shah and Mangesh Sangle will contest from Khetwadi and Vikhroli respectively, whereas Shiv Sena’s Vishakha Raut will contest from party’s stronghold Dadar.

According to sources, MLAs normally do not contest the municipal polls, as it is considered as a political demotion after working in state legislative Assembly or council.

Mr Shah is contesting from ward number 220 in South Mumbai. He was elected in the 1999 assembly polls from the Khetwadi constituency. However, later he failed to enter Vidhan Sabha in 2004 and 2014 Assembly polls. “Be it a MLA or a corporator, we are all public representatives.

My experience as a former MLA would help me a great deal to solve my ward’s problems while working as a corporator,” said Mr Shah.

In a bid to assert its dominance on Dadar, Shiv Sena has decided to field Ms Raut from ward number 191, which comprises of Shivaji Park and party headquarters Shiv Sena Bhavan. Dadar was Shiv Sena’s stronghold since its inception in 1966. However, in 2009 assembly and 2012 civic polls it had lost ground to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). During the 2014 assembly polls, the Sena regained the Dadar seat by defeating the MNS.

Ms Raut was a Sena MLA from Dadar and also was a former BMC mayor in the ’90s. But she faces a tough challenge from MNS’ Swapna Deshpande, who is the wife of corporator Sandeep Deshpande in ward no 191.

“I decided to contest as I was eager to work under Uddhavji’s leadership as a corporator. He has a vision for the Mumbai city and I would like to implement it in the BMC,” said Ms Raut.