Mumbai: MNS wins BMC’s G-North ward committee as Shiv Sena (UBT) withdraws from election at the 11th hour

Mumbai: A last-minute withdrawal by Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Joseph Koli cleared the way for Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) corporator Yashwant Killedar to be elected unopposed as G-North ward committee chairperson on Friday.Killedar is among the six MNS corporators in BMC and, given the party's limited strength, it would otherwise have been unlikely to secure the post for him.Sources indicated there was an understanding between Sena (UBT) and MNS to allow the latter's candidate to head the committee, after Sena (UBT) reportedly declined to share nominated corporator positions within its quota. Sena (UBT) had nominated Sainath Durge, Madhuri Manjrekar, and Kailash Pathak.Alongside G North, elections for five ward committee chairpersons were also held on Friday. BJP corporators Shrikala Ramachandran Pillai (P-South), Rohan Rathod (K West) and Prakash Musale (K-North and K-South) were elected unopposed. Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators Rohini Kamble (H-East and H-West) and Padmaja Chemburkar (G-South) were also elected unopposed.The elections for P-South, K-West, and K-North and K-South ward committees were presided over by mayor Ritu Tawde, while the polls for H-East and H-West, G-North, and G-South ward committees were conducted under the supervision of deputy mayor Sanjay Ghadi.Several corporators, who were part of the election process, arrived at BMC headquarters to attend the standing committee meeting after casting their votes. Congress corporator Tulip Miranda from Kalina said they made it a point to participate in the ward committee voting as these bodies play a key role in deciding the fate of local development works and civic projects in their respective areas. Over the last two days, the election process for 12 ward committee chairpersons has been completed. Polls for the remaining five ward committees — L, N, S and T, M-West, and M-East — will be held on Monday.