KDMC’s 3 key committees elected unopposed; Mallesh Shetty to head Standing Committee

KALYAN: In a significant political development, all three key committee chairperson posts in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) have been filled unopposed following a consensus between Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and BJP under the Mahayuti alliance.

As per the power-sharing arrangement, the crucial Standing Committee—often referred to as the “treasury” of the civic body—will remain with Shiv Sena. Mallesh Shetty has been elected unopposed as the Chairman of the Standing Committee. Sarika Jadhav from Shiv Sena has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Women and Child Welfare Committee, while BJP’s Abhijit Tharval will head the Education Committee.

Officials said that only one nomination was received for each of the three posts, leading to their unopposed election. The results were formally announced on Monday.

The Standing Committee plays a key role in financial decision-making within the corporation, and its control is considered strategically important. With Shiv Sena retaining this committee along with the Women and Child Welfare Committee, BJP has secured the Education Committee under the alliance formula.

Speaking after his appointment, Shetty said that the committee’s functioning would be carried out by taking all stakeholders into confidence. He added that decisions would be made after carefully studying the civic body’s financial condition, especially as no civic elections had been held in the past five years.

Tharval, who has been elected as a corporator for the first time, said he would focus on improving the quality of education in municipal schools. “Children from ordinary families study in civic schools. Efforts will be made to provide better educational facilities and improve standards,” he said, thanking Mahayuti leaders for reposing faith in him.

The unopposed elections reflect a coordinated political understanding between the alliance partners in KDMC.