Mumbai: The Opposition in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in Maharashtra had alleged that Shiv Sena leaders are misusing the fund of corporation to fight the Lok Sabha elections.
The Lok Sabha candidate of Shiv Sena from Mumbai South Central Rahul Shewale had replaced veteran leader Manohar Joshi. Shewale is already at an advantage as he begins his campaign. He has Rs 40 crore to spend on projects in his prospective constituency.
This is why Shewale, a 3-time corporator, also holds the powerful position of the standing committee chairman of the cash-rich civic body BMC.
However the Opposition is alleging that corporators of Shiv Sena have used their brute majority in the standing committee to get projects worth crores of rupees with an eye on elections.
The standing committee member Rais Sheikh said, “This is a clear violation of the municipal laws. These funds have been taken from various departments and have been arbitrarily distributed among the Sena leaders for the coming Lok Sabha elections.”
The Shiv Sena-BJP combine has been out of power in the state for more than a decade and with 2014 being their best shot at regaining power, they are leaving no stone unturned. Mumbai Mayor Sunil Prabhu has been allocated Rs 11 crore and leader of the House Yashodhar Phanse Rs 10 crore. Just last month, the standing committee increased the development fund for all 227 corporators from Rs 40 lakh to Rs 1 crore.
Meanwhile Shewale had claimed, “I haven’t misused any funds. South Central corporators had asked for special funds.”
Bureau Report
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