Daijiworld Media Network – Kalyan

Kalyan, Sep 13: Out of 3,664 suggestions and objections received on the proposed ward formation for the upcoming Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation elections, a staggering 3,400 came from residents of the 27 villages merged into KDMC, along with political leaders demanding a separate municipal council for these villages.

NCP (SP) MP Suresh Mhatre, also known as Balya Mama, argued that since a case on the demand for a separate municipal council for these villages is pending in the Supreme Court, the ward formation should ideally keep them separate. Shiv Sena (UBT) Kalyan District President Dipesh Mhatre added that the current draft merges these villages with KDMC’s old jurisdiction, meaning fresh elections would be needed if the Supreme Court favors forming a new council. Both urged authorities to consider the 3,400 objections before finalizing the draft.

KDMC sources, however, revealed that the 3,400 objections were not taken up, as they were considered outside the scope of ward boundary-related issues. The remaining 264 objections were reviewed, with similar issues consolidated into 30 key points for collective hearings.

MNS leader Prakash Bhoir claimed that the ward formation favors the ruling party, citing irregularities in splitting villages into multiple wards and violations in panel formation rules. Objections also raised concerns about population imbalances, boundary changes, and reservation distribution. KDMC has 122 seats across 31 multi-member panels, with 29 panels having four wards each and two panels three wards each.

A KDMC press release stated that the state government authorized Dipendra Kushwah, Development Commissioner (Industries), to conduct hearings on Thursday at the civic headquarters, attended by Municipal Commissioner Abhinav Goyal, Deputy Commissioner (Elections) Ramesh Misal, and other officials.