Shiv Sena Faces Fresh Setback in Ulhasnagar as Corporator Loses Membership

-Ulhasnagar: In another setback for the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC), corporator Pooja Sachin Bhoir has been disqualified after her caste validity certificate was declared invalid by the District Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, reports Pradeep Gupta. The development comes just a month after the membership of Shiv Sena corporator Vicky Labana from Ward 6(A) was cancelled, dealing a second major blow to the party's strength in the civic body.Municipal Commissioner Manisha Awhale issued the order cancelling Bhoir's membership from Ward No. 1(B), which is reserved for the Scheduled Tribe (Women) category, following the scrutiny committee's decision invalidating the caste certificate submitted during the civic elections. The disqualification has once again brought the political equations within the UMC into the spotlight. At present, the Shiv Sena and the BJP jointly share power in the civic body, with the Shiv Sena holding the Mayor's post and the BJP the Deputy Mayor's.

However, despite being alliance partners, the two parties have frequently been at loggerheads over control of the corporation.The BJP had emerged as the single largest party by winning 37 seats in the civic elections and has repeatedly indicated its desire to install its own Mayor. Before the latest disqualifications, Shiv Sena had 36 corporators and enjoyed the support of two Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi corporators, one SAI Party corporator and one Independent, giving the ruling alliance a comfortable majority.

With Bhoir's membership now cancelled, Shiv Sena's tally has come down to 34 following the earlier disqualification of Labana, reducing the total strength of the 78-member House to 76. The current composition stands at BJP 37, Shiv Sena 34, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi 2, Congress 1, Sai Party 1 and one Independent.Despite the loss of two corporators, the Shiv Sena, in the case of the BJP, goes against them in the civic body and continues to retain a majority with the backing of its local allies.

However, political observers believe that if more corporators lose their memberships in the coming months, the balance of power could shift significantly, intensifying the tussle between the BJP and Shiv Sena over control of the civic body.By-elections are now expected in Ward 1(B) and Ward 6(A), while the memberships of several other corporators are reportedly under scrutiny over issues related to caste validity certificates and election documents. Any further disqualifications could trigger a fresh political battle and alter the power dynamics in the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation.