MNS gets representation in 3 key committees in Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation

Kalyan: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which extended support to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), has been given representation in all three key civic panels — the standing committee, women and child welfare committee, and education committee.The appointments were approved during the first general body meeting of the newly elected KDMC. As part of the ruling Shiv Sena-led alliance, MNS has been accommodated in all three committees, while the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction has secured one seat in each committee.During the meeting, the civic body also passed a resolution congratulating Kalyan MP Shrikant Shinde for securing a sanction of Rs 4,800 crore from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for various development projects in the Kalyan-Dombivli region.However, the meeting began on a tense note after police conducted a security check at the KDMC headquarters minutes before the session started. Several corporators objected to the move and questioned the administration over the need for police searches inside the civic headquarters."We are elected representatives, not thieves or robbers. Why are we being subjected to such checks?" some corporators asked, demanding an explanation from officials. They also questioned the purpose of deploying municipal security guards if the police were required to conduct such checks. Civic officials later clarified that proper precautions would be taken in the future.Following the brief disruption, the house proceeded with the appointment of members to the three important committees.The committee formation reflects the political equations that emerged after the recent KDMC elections. In the polls, the Shiv Sena and BJP had contested separately. Out of the 122 seats in the civic body, Shiv Sena won 53 seats while BJP secured 50.However, after the results, the two parties came together to form the ruling alliance in the corporation.Political observers said that before formally bringing BJP into the ruling arrangement, Shiv Sena had already secured the support of five MNS corporators along with some independents. This move effectively reduced BJP's bargaining power within alliance, they added.Amid this, on Monday, Shiv Sena (UBT) expelled KDMC corporator Madhur Mhatre from the party, announcing the decision through its mouthpiece Saamana. The move comes amid political developments involving the 11 corporators elected from Shiv Sena (UBT) in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC). Four of the corporators had gone missing for a few days. Among them, three corporators have now decided to remain with Uddhav Thackeray's party and have officially joined the party group by registering themselves at Konkan Bhavan.However, Madhur Mhatre has not yet rejoined the party group, leading to the disciplinary action by the party leadership.Sena (UBT) Kalyan district president Sharad Patil said, "The party today expelled Mhatre officially for his anti-party activities and in the coming days we will start process of his disqualification, which will result in a fresh election in the concerned ward."