In a significant blow to the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, another of its corporators, Roshan Shaikh, was disqualified on Friday for submitting an invalid Other Backward Classes (OBC) caste certificate. This marks the second disqualification of an AIMIM corporator in the Mumbai civic body within a week, raising questions about the party's candidate verification processes.
Details of the Disqualification
Roshan Shaikh, who represented the Vakola ward in the BMC, was disqualified by the Mumbai Municipal Commissioner's office after a scrutiny of his caste certificate revealed it was not issued by the competent authority. According to officials, the certificate was found to be invalid as it did not meet the criteria set by the Maharashtra government for OBC classification. Shaikh had submitted the certificate at the time of filing his nomination for the 2017 BMC elections.
The disqualification order, issued on Friday, stated that Shaikh's OBC certificate was not from the designated caste verification committee, rendering his election invalid. This development comes just days after another AIMIM corporator, Mohammed Sajid, was disqualified on similar grounds, dealing a double blow to the party's strength in the 227-member BMC house.
AIMIM's Response and Political Ramifications
AIMIM leaders expressed disappointment over the decision, with party spokesperson Waris Pathan stating, "We will challenge this disqualification in the court. Our corporators have valid certificates, and we believe there is a conspiracy to weaken our party ahead of the BMC elections." However, the Mumbai civic administration maintained that the action was taken purely based on documentary evidence and legal provisions.
Political analysts view this as a setback for AIMIM, which has been trying to expand its footprint in Maharashtra, particularly in Mumbai's Muslim-dominated areas. The party currently has 12 corporators in the BMC, but with two disqualifications, its strength has reduced to 10. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena have seized the opportunity to criticize AIMIM, accusing it of fielding candidates with fraudulent documents.
Impact on BMC Elections
The disqualifications have added a new dimension to the upcoming BMC elections, scheduled for later this year. The civic body, which has been under the control of the Shiv Sena (now split into two factions), is witnessing intense political maneuvering. The AIMIM's disqualifications could potentially benefit other parties, especially in wards where the Muslim vote is divided.
According to election analysts, the AIMIM had been banking on OBC votes in certain wards, and these disqualifications might erode its credibility among the OBC community. The party has been accused of misusing caste certificates to secure reservations, a charge it denies.
Meanwhile, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation has initiated a review of all OBC certificates submitted by elected corporators to prevent similar cases. Officials said that a committee has been formed to verify the authenticity of caste certificates of all 227 corporators, and further disqualifications could follow if irregularities are found.
