Maharashtra government likely to suspend no-trust move against NMMC chief

The BJP-led Maharashtra government is likely to suspend the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s no-confidence motion against its civic chief Tukaram Mundhe

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Maharashtra government is likely to suspend the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s no-confidence motion against its civic chief Tukaram Mundhe.

Politicians from all parties got together to pass the motion against Tukaram Mundhe, who won plaudits from ordinary residents for his strict action against encroachers.

Politicians from all parties expect the BJP got together on Tuesday morning to pass the motion against the commissioner, who won plaudits from ordinary residents for his strict action against encroachers and hawkers but fell foul of corporators for sticking to the rule book.

While the civic body passed the motion proposed by the NCP, Shiv Sena and Congress 105-6 in the 111 member house, section 451 of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act gives the state government the power to rescind or suspend any resolution of any corporation in certain cases, including for the larger public interest, a senior state government official said.

“We think the municipal commissioner’s work is on the right track. He has given us enough evidence of there being a clutch of properties where no property tax has been levied for years, of irregularities in housekeeping contracts and other basic tenders. According to the state, he is doing everything that a municipal commissioner is expected to do. Even the citizens are in his favour,” the official said.

The state appoints IAS officers as commissioners of municipal corporations governing major cities, and CM Devendra Fadnavis had handpicked Mundhe as the Navi Mumbai civic chief.

Residents and activists have firmly stood with Mundhe, lauding the him as an honest officer who acted against illegal construction and corruption in the civic body. ‘Support Mundhe’ messages have gone viral on social media, with residents alleging the politicians were pursuing vested interests.