Shiv Sena may move on BMC chief’s removal

It’s been six months since allegations of corruption in road repair works surfaced but the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is yet to present an inquiry report on the issue. So much so, Shiv Sena, the ruling party in the civic body, has threatened to bring a no-confidence motion against the civic body’s chief Ajoy Mehta for his failure to prepare a report.

Mayor Snehal Ambekar, in September last year, had alleged that there were large-scale malpractices in the city road repair works. Following this, Mr Mehta had initiated a probe into the matter. The mayor, on Monday, sent a reminder to Mr Mehta, asking him to fix responsibility at the earliest.

Sena leaders alleged that even after six months, the BMC had failed to carry out a proper probe. Raising the issue in the civic general body meeting on Thursday, standing committee chairman Shailesh Phanse said, “It is baffling that even after six months, the BMC has not even submitted an interim inquiry report.”

House leader Trishna Vishwasrao threatened to move a non-confidence motion against Mr Mehta. “The fact that even after the reminder letter from the mayor, the BMC chief has not yet submitted the report, shows his lack of respect for the highest post. If necessary, we will bring a no-confidence motion against him,” said Mr Vishwasrao.

Sena corporator Avkash Jadhav alleged that Mr Mehta was playing to the tune of the state government. “After the inquiry report is submitted, the concerned officers should be penalised by stopping their retirement benefits, increments and pensions, which will send out a strong message to errant employees,” he said.

However Sena’s ally BJP refused to support Sena on the non-confidence motion. “These are arm-twisting tactics of the Sena. Instead of encouraging the BMC chief, who is trying to catch errant contractors and corrupt officials, they are threatening him,” said BJP group leader Manoj Kotak.