Former Mumbai mayor and Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Vishakha Raut has been disqualified from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after her caste certificate was declared invalid.
The Maharashtra government issued an official notification on Friday, formally declaring Raut ineligible to continue as a corporator. The announcement is expected to be formally placed before the BMC General Body meeting on Monday.
Raut, who represented Ward 191 in Dadar, had been elected from a seat reserved for the Other Backward Classes (OBC). The Palghar District Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee had earlier invalidated her caste certificate.
Following the committee's decision, the BMC Commissioner wrote to the state government seeking action against Raut. She subsequently approached the Bombay High Court, challenging the move and seeking a stay on the disqualification process.
However, the High Court refused to grant her relief, allowing the disqualification proceedings to continue. The state government has now declared her seat vacant under Section 16 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888.
According to the government notification, Raut has been barred from being elected or continuing as a municipal councillor for six years from August 20, 2026. This also means she will not be eligible to contest the next BMC election.
Raut's disqualification is being viewed as a major setback for the Shiv Sena (UBT), given her experience as a former mayor and senior party leader.
With Raut's removal, the number of BMC corporators whose positions have been cancelled over invalid caste certificates has risen to five. The other cases involve corporators from the AIMIM, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Ajit Pawar) factions.
The vacancy in Raut's ward is expected to trigger further legal and administrative proceedings regarding who will eventually occupy the seat.
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