In a show of support to the embattled Navi Mumbai civic chief, Tukaram Mundhe, who was given the boot by the corporators in a no-confidence motion, the state urban development department suspended the motion for 30 day
Tukaram Mundhe
In a show of support to the embattled Navi Mumbai civic chief, Tukaram Mundhe, who was given the boot by the corporators in a no-confidence motion, the state urban development department suspended the motion for 30 days. Headed by CM Devendra Fadnavis, UDD officials said they wanted to give the people’s IAS officer an opportunity to explain his stand before ousting him.
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Urban development principal secretary Manisha Mhaiskar told mid-day that the motion has been suspended till further orders from the government. “It’s an interim stay. The government will take a final call after hearing the corporation’s side. The corporation has been given 30 days to present its case,” she said.
Fadnavis had said that the final decision would be taken on merit. However, he is under pressure from ally Shiv Sena to transfer the officer, who is despised by his political bosses in Navi Mumbai, reportedly because of his anti-corruption drives and decisions that have destabilised local political leaders.
Meanwhile, an undeterred Mundhe has ordered yet another demolition of illegal structures like educational institutes and commercial establishments that are protected by political patronage.
Corporators unhappy
Confirming that he is aware about the suspension of the motion, Sudhakar Sonawane, mayor, NMMC, (independent corporator), said, “Mundhe is a government bureaucrat and he was not following the rules of democracy. It’s why he has just performed stunts to get the media’s attention. No action or work done by him has made any impact and the cases get rejected in court. If a politician does such stunts, we can understand, but being a bureaucrat, it doesn’t suit him and it’s against democracy.”
Sonawane further reaffirmed that the corporation will stand by its decision to remove him as decided by the no-confidence motion. “The suspension of the motion clearly shows that the government authorities are supporting bureaucrats. A few people protesting on roads doesn’t mean Navi Mumbai is supporting him. We are always against him and are against the suspension granted by the government.”
Inputs by Faisal Tandel
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