Vishakha Raut’s OBC certificate rejection has triggered a fresh Shiv Sena UBT-Shinde faction clash over her Dadar corporator seat. UBT leaders have urged BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide not to disqualify her until her appeal is decided, while the Shinde camp has sought action under the BMC Act.

Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Vishakha Raut faces a challenge to her Dadar seat after her OBC certificate was rejected | AI Generated Image

Mumbai, August 24, 2026: The Dadar corporator seat has become a fresh flashpoint between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Shinde factions after the Palghar Caste Scrutiny Committee rejected Shiv Sena (UBT) senior corporator Vishakha Raut’s Other Backward Class (OBC) certificate.

While the UBT faction has sought to protect Raut’s position, the Shinde camp has demanded action under the BMC Act.

On Monday, a UBT delegation met BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide and contended that Raut cannot be disqualified at this stage since she has three months to challenge the scrutiny panel’s decision before the Konkan Divisional Commissioner.

Raut’s Election Under Cloud

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Raut represents the politically prized Dadar–Shivaji Park belt, where she retained Shiv Sena (UBT)’s OBC-reserved Ward 191 in one of the BMC election’s closest fights. She polled 13,236 votes to defeat Priya Sarvankar, daughter of Shiv Sena (Shinde) former MLA Sada Sarvankar, by a razor-thin 197 votes.

With only two candidates in the fray, the contest was a straight political face-off, making Raut’s narrow victory particularly significant. Her election is now under a cloud after the Palghar Caste Scrutiny Committee cancelled her OBC certificate following a complaint challenging its validity.

For the Thackeray camp, the development is more than a legal setback—it has become a prestige battle to defend its hold over a key Shiv Sena stronghold.

Moving swiftly to protect Raut, a delegation of senior Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators met the Municipal Commissioner and demanded that no action be taken against her until the legal process is exhausted.

The delegation pointed out that Raut has three months to appeal the scrutiny committee’s decision before the Konkan Divisional Commissioner and argued that she should not face disqualification while the appeal remains pending.

The demand sets the stage for another political confrontation, with the Shinde faction also meeting Bhide and pressing the civic administration to act under the provisions of the BMC Act.

Appeal Process Cited

Raut said that while a corporator’s post was earlier cancelled following a Caste Scrutiny Committee ruling, the new rules allow three months to appeal before the Konkan Divisional Commissioner, who has up to six months to decide the matter.

“We have apprised the Mayor and Municipal Commissioner of the new circular. Since I am filing an appeal, I have requested that my post neither be declared vacant nor I be disqualified until the appeal is decided,” she said.

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Shiv Sena (Shinde) group leader in the BMC, Amey Ghole, said, “The Caste Scrutiny Committee’s order has come in favour of Priya Sarvankar, and the necessary submissions have been made before the Municipal Commissioner and other authorities. We will pursue the matter through legal channels and, based on the merits of the case and the legal opinion, take the appropriate course of action."

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