Mehta family’s legacy about to end in BMC

Ward delimitation and reservations for the upcoming municipal election might soon put an end to the aspirations of the Mehta family, which had represented a Mumbai Central ward for the last 50 years in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). With both factors not in their favour, the family will not contest the civic polls, putting an end to five decades of political legacy in the locality.

Congress corporator Noshir Mehta, who represents ward no 216 that stretches from Navjivan Society to Bellasis Road, said, “The delimitation process has split our ward into two, both being reserved for the OBC category. To find a new open category ward, we will have to go as far as Malabar Hill. However, contesting from there would be an injustice to local aspirants. Hence we have decided not to contest the BMC polls this time.”

In the 2012 BMC election, Noshir Mehta had registered a thumping win garnering 12,030 votes, with a victory margin of almost 10,000 votes. In his witty style, he has always been vocal in the civic body on people’s issue by taking the administration to the task.

The Mehta family’s dominance in the area began 50 years ago, when Rusi Mehta won the BMC election in 1967. Known as a popular and respected corporator, he served the area for 20 years (five terms) before he died in a criminal assault in 1987.

His son Noshir continued his legacy by winning the by-poll. He won with the highest margin in 1987, and served the area for three terms till 2002, after which it was declared a women’s seat.

However, people continued to repose faith in the Mehta family by electing Noshir’s sister Anahita, who twice went on to become a corporator. As the ward became open in 2012, Noshir was again elected by the voters.

The brother-sister duo runs a welfare centre in memory of thief father.

Noshir said, “Its time to say no to elections. Even last time I was not willing to fight, but contested only on the insistence of Murlibhai Deora (former Congress MP). I am proud that we kept serving our area for 50 long years.”