The announcement was made by Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawade during the BMC general body meeting on Thursday. She informed members that the seat held by Deepak Sawant from Ward No. 111 in Kanjurmarg had become vacant following the committee's decision

The Prime Minister also outlined the multifaceted challenges India faces due to the tensions in the Gulf nations; he said that West Asia is also important for India as "approximately one crore Indians live and work in Gulf countries"