Vishakha Raut's appeal against disqualification as corporator rejected at Konkan Bhavan

The Thackeray faction has suffered a major setback in Mumbai. The appeal filed by former mayor Vishakha Raut after her corporator's post was cancelled has been rejected at Konkan Bhavan. The ruling is being seen as a political blow to the Uddhav Thackeray faction in this case of disqualification of corporators. Raut had filed the appeal against the finding that her caste certificate is invalid.

The decision is said to bring major relief to Priya Sarvankar of the Shinde faction.

According to the information available, the Caste Scrutiny Committee in Palghar had held Raut's Other Backward Classes (OBC) caste certificate invalid. The Maharashtra government then declared her ineligible to hold the post of corporator for six years. Raut challenged the action in the Bombay High Court, but the court dismissed her petition. The situation now is such that the way may open for Priya Sarvankar Gurav to stake a claim to the corporator's post.

Why was Raut's post cancelled? In the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation election, Raut contested on a Thackeray faction ticket. She defeated Sarvankar of the Shinde faction in that election. Sarvankar then challenged Raut's victory. Her post was cancelled after her caste validity certificate was held invalid, and she could not contest elections for the next six years.

The state government's Urban Development Department had also issued a notification on the matter. Ritu Tawade then announced that Raut's corporator's post stood cancelled. After that announcement, Raut had said she would challenge the decision legally.

Meanwhile, Raut had received temporary relief from the Supreme Court. After the cancellation of her post, she filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the decision. The court then ordered that no one be appointed to the seat vacated by Raut and that it be kept vacant for the time being. In its order, the court also issued notices to the Election Commission and to Raut's rival Priya Sarvankar, directing them to present their side in the matter.