Mumbai: Congress leader and former corporator Ravi Raja, who was the Leader of Opposition in Congress Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said that out of 29 councilors of the Congress, changes were made in the reservation of 21 wards.
Raja alleged that BMC chief Iqbal Chahal had made a planned attempt to eliminate the Congress from Mumbai.
Raja said, “It seems unfair and is part of the ruling party’s plan. Chahal is responsible for this and the lottery is a systematic attempt to finish the Congress party. He has taken the betel nut to finish the Congress.”
Raja’s own ward number 182 has been reserved for women in Sion and now he has to look for a new ward to contest the elections to be held in September/October 2022.
“The Congress has always opposed the arbitrary conduct of the Municipal Commissioner. Even after the appointment of the Commissioner as Administrator, his arbitrariness has not stopped. They are taking many important decisions secretly. We opposed several proposals, which were cleared by the commissioner. That’s why he took revenge. We will soon decide to challenge this lottery system in court.”
“BMC has used a preferential lottery system under which a ward which was not reserved for the previous elections has been reserved for women. The rule states that all the wards should be treated as new wards and the lottery should be conducted afresh. Therefore this preferential arrangement was not in accordance with the law. We will consult our legal team and senior party leaders and then decide how to move the courts,” said Raja.
Raja alleged that BMC chief Iqbal Chahal had made a planned attempt to eliminate the Congress from Mumbai.
Raja said, “It seems unfair and is part of the ruling party’s plan. Chahal is responsible for this and the lottery is a systematic attempt to finish the Congress party. He has taken the betel nut to finish the Congress.”
Raja’s own ward number 182 has been reserved for women in Sion and now he has to look for a new ward to contest the elections to be held in September/October 2022.
“The Congress has always opposed the arbitrary conduct of the Municipal Commissioner. Even after the appointment of the Commissioner as Administrator, his arbitrariness has not stopped. They are taking many important decisions secretly. We opposed several proposals, which were cleared by the commissioner. That’s why he took revenge. We will soon decide to challenge this lottery system in court.”
“BMC has used a preferential lottery system under which a ward which was not reserved for the previous elections has been reserved for women. The rule states that all the wards should be treated as new wards and the lottery should be conducted afresh. Therefore this preferential arrangement was not in accordance with the law. We will consult our legal team and senior party leaders and then decide how to move the courts,” said Raja.