Mumbai: Discontent within the ruling alliance in the BMC has surfaced in the Improvement Committee, with BJP corporators alleging they are not being given a fair chance to debate or vote on proposals. The committee is chaired by Shiv Sena corporator Sandhya Doshi.BJP members of the committee met Mumbai BJP president Ameet Satam last week and raised concerns over the panel’s functioning. They alleged that proposals they wanted discussed or put to vote were cleared without voting. One corporator cited a redevelopment proposal involving amalgamation of two BMC leasehold plots in Wadala under Section 33(7) of the Development Control and Promotion Regulations. Despite a BJP corporator asking that the proposal not be taken up, Doshi allegedly proceeded and cleared it.The committee has nine BJP corporators and three from Shiv Sena, giving the BJP a majority if matters are put to a vote. BJP corporators claim this majority is being bypassed. Satam reportedly advised them to object during meetings if proposals were cleared against agreed positions. A BJP functionary said the committee’s functioning had been “arbitrary and one-sided,” alleging that Doshi held individual meetings on old proposals without committee discussion. The BJP has also raised the matter with Shiv Sena group leader Amey Ghole.A Sena functionary said no proposal is cleared without consultation among alliance leaders. However, BJP leaders also alleged that Doshi’s husband attends unofficial pre-meetings and speaks on her behalf. Doshi denied the allegations, calling them “loose talks.” She said her husband may have been present due to party-related events but had no role in committee decisions. She maintained that all Mahayuti members are consulted before proposals are cleared.Shiv Sena functionaries said that if the BJP objects, it can still block proposals in the civic house, where it has a majority.
