Mumbai: For the first time in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), a leader of the third largest party was chosen the leader of the opposition.
Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar formally announced the decision at the corporation meeting on Tuesday. In a brief statement, Mr. Mahadeshwar said though the BJP had not yet replied to his letter, based on their statements made on the floor of the House, it would be accepted that they are relinquishing claim for the post. And hence, the post was being offered to the Congress’s leader, Ravi Raja.
Four-time corporator Mr. Raja (57) had lost the 2012 elections and had been opposed for a ticket from his own party leadership in the 2017 polls. He did manage to win his fifth term as a corporator by scrapping through a victory with a margin of 134 votes by defeating Murugan, brother of BJP legislator Tamil Selvan.
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Raja also holds the record for being part of the BEST committee for 18 consecutive years.
Even when he had lost the elections in 2012, his party had nominated him on the BEST committee.
A forceful voice in BMC meetings, Mr. Raja’s effectiveness would be determined by how he manages to handle the stormy relationship between the Sena and the BJP. “I would like to bring to their logical conclusion the scams in storm water drain and roads department. I want to ensure that corrupt contractors are blacklisted and that they don’t manage to bag BMC contracts again. I would also like to ensure that a thorough Development Plan is presented before the corporartion.”
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