BJP's Dimple Mehta elected as Mira Bhayandar's new mayor

Mira Bhayandar: After opposition regarding demands of a Marathi-speaking leader, Bharatiya Janata Party corporator Dimple Mehta on Tuesday has been elected as the mayor of Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC).

How many votes for victory?

BJP's mayoral candidate Dimple Mehta, who is also the sister-in-law of senior leader Narendra Mehta, has secured the post of mayor with a strong majority of votes in the house. 

The BJP has emerged as the single largest party with 78 out of the 95 corporators in the Mira Bhayandar civic body.  The mayor's post was reserved for OBC woman. 

The Congress has 13 corporators, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) won 3 and the Independent candidate also won one seat and later the candidate, Anil Patil, extended his support to the saffron party.  

Along with Dimple Mehta, Dhruvkishor Patil also assumed charge as the deputy Mayor.

Who were against BJP?

To challenge the BJP's strength in mayoral election, the Congress and the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) formed a alliance but only secured 16 votes.

To contest for the mayor post, the Congress-Shiv Sena alliance had nominated Rubina Khatun against BJP as their contender. 

What was the row before the victory?

Before the voting, BJP faced strong opposition from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES). The political row erupted after they demanded that only a Marathi-speaking leader should be appointed as Mayor. 

Later after the announcement, the  Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti said that it will protest against the appointment and also conduct a 3-kilometre-long road march to oppose the selection of non-Marathi Mayor.

According to MES, the mayor post should be hold by the person who speaks Marathi, so that they can represent the sentiments and emotions properly.