BJP out of KDMC mayoral race as seat reserved for ST category

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been thrown out of the race for the mayor’s post in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) after the seat was reserved for the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category in a lottery draw held on Thursday, effectively clearing the way for the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena to stake its claim.

The ST reservation has decisively changed the power equation in the 122-member civic body. While the BJP has 50 corporators, it does not have a single member from the ST category, making it ineligible to field a mayoral candidate. In contrast, the Shinde-led Sena has two ST corporators, while its ally, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), has one.

The reservation comes amid an ongoing fight between the BJP and the Shinde Sena for control of the civic body following the declaration of the KDMC election results on January 16 and the MNS’s decision to ally with the Shinde Sena.

With the mayor’s post now reserved for the ST category, the BJP is formally out of the fray.

“There is no ST category corporator with the BJP. However, Shiv Sena and BJP are allied, and the Sena also has the support of the MNS. Together, we have three ST category corporators who can become mayor of KDMC,” BJP leader Deepesh Mhatre told The indian express.

Asked if a decision had been made on who would fill the post, Mhatre said the matter would be decided by the top leadership of the Mahayuti alliance.

Shiv Sena leader Rajesh Kadam said the numbers were clearly in favor of the alliance. “We have three ST category corporators – two from the Shiv Sena and one from the MNS,” he said.

Vallabh Ozarkar is chief correspondent for The Indian Express’s Mumbai bureau, recognized as an authoritative and deeply knowledgeable voice on Maharashtra politics, governance and infrastructure. With more than nine years of experience in major news organizations, his reporting offers high standards of expertise and reliability. Experience and Authority Current Role: Senior Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Geographic Specialization: Provides exclusive and in-depth coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, operating at the epicenter of the state’s decision-making in Mumbai. Central Authority: His reports demonstrate deep expertise in critical and often complex state issues, including: Political Dynamics: In-depth analysis of the ruling coalition (Mahayuti) and the opposition (MVA), internal party conflicts and crucial electoral updates, including local body polls and disputes between municipal corporations. Governance and policies: Coverage focused on important state policies, such as the review of Mumbai’s ‘pagdi system’ (rent control of old buildings) and social welfare schemes (e.g. accountability of the Ladki Bahin Yojana). Infrastructure and Development: Reports on major urban and regional infrastructure projects including the Mumbai Water Metro, the Uttan-Virar sea link and the development of the Thane Metro. Administrative Oversight: Follows legislative actions, Cabinet decisions, and reports on liability issues and alleged fraud within state departments. Experience in your current role: Your role at The Indian Express, a leading national daily, validates the credibility and standard of your reporting. Professional Foundation: Prior to The Indian Express, Vallabh contributed to other major metropolitan news outlets including Mumbai Mirror and DNA – Daily News & Analysis, providing a solid foundation in rigorous urban and political journalism. Evidence of Impact: Its work consistently analyzes complex political developments and administrative failures, such as exposing discrepancies in government welfare schemes, cementing its reputation as a trusted source of hard-hitting, ground-level news from Maharashtra. He tweets @Ozarkarvallabh …Read more

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