Mumbai civic polls: Corruption rules these leaders out, but families take their place

Data obtained by Right to Information activist Jeetendra Ghadge shows eight sitting corporators have cases pending against them — inquiry is pending in four cases, two are pending trial and two investigations are yet to be initiated.

Corruption cases pending against them, sitting corporators are getting their husbands, wives and sons to fight for seats in the upcoming polls to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election.

sitting corporators are getting their husbands, wives and sons to fight for seats in the upcoming polls to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. (HT)

Data obtained by Right to Information activist Jeetendra Ghadge shows eight sitting corporators have cases pending against them — inquiry is pending in four cases, two are pending trial and two investigations are yet to be initiated.

Family members will contest in a bid to retain power — along with corruption cases, reservation of wards after delimitation has changed the dynamics.

BJP sitting corporator Gyanmurti Sharma’s wife Sangeeta is contesting from ward 44 (New Collector’s MHB Colony ward). Gyanmurti, an advocate, was booked in a case by the Anti-Corruption Bureau after his driver was arrested accepting bribe. He is not contesting this year but his wife, an HSC pass, will. Sitting Congress corporator Mohsin Haider’s wife Meher is contesting from ward 66 in Andheri. Haider has a case pending against him since 2012. Similarly, sitting corporator Lalitha Annamalai has a case pending against her. Her husband Dr S Annamalai is contesting from ward 164 on a Sena ticket. Ex-corporator Alijan Shaikh’s son is contesting from ward 101. Alijan is also allegedly involved in a corruption case.

“Politicals parties need to understand giving tickets to tainted candidates affects the credibility of the entire party on a local and national level. Instead of giving importance to the winning prospects of one candidate, the party should think about losing the faith of citizens at large,” Ghadge said.

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