Dimple Mehta: Dimple Mehta wins Mira-Bhayander mayor election; decisive lead of 79 votes in the voting process

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After the recent 29 municipal elections, as the hustle for mayoral elections has begun, politics in the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation has taken a controversial turn over the issue of 'No Non-Marathi Mayor'. Despite strong opposition from the Marathi Integration Committee, BJP candidate Dimple Mehta has secured the mayoral position. Meanwhile, Dhruv Kishore Patil has been elected for the deputy mayor position.

In the election, all 78 BJP corporators and one independent raised their hands in favor of Dimple Mehta, totaling 79 votes. On the other hand, 16 corporators of the Mira-Bhayandar Vikas Aghadi voted in favor of Congress candidate Rubina Shaikh. Since no one withdrew their nomination by the final withdrawal time, Dimple Mehta's position as mayor is confirmed. In the deputy mayor election, Dhruv Kishore Patil also received 79 votes.

These events caused intense dissatisfaction among the Marathi community in the city. The Marathi Ekikaran Samiti protested outside the municipal corporation, chanting 'We want a Marathi mayor.' With the support of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), the protest intensified. As only one nomination from Dimple Mehta of the BJP was filed and due to bloc voting, the possibility of a non-Marathi mayor was being speculated, which heated the atmosphere.

Reacting to this, BJP leader Pratap Sarnayak strongly criticized the Marathi Ekikaran Samiti. Speaking to ABP Maza, he said, "Where did this committee come from now? By standing in the election and supporting MNS, they defeated our 28 corporators. If they had supported us then, there would have been no need for this agitation today." He further said, "First Geeta Jain became mayor, Narendra Mehta became MLA, why was there no agitation then? There is 80% non-Marathi community here, so why the demand for Marathi rights now?"

In an important municipal corporation like Mira-Bhayandar in the MMRDA, this dispute is seen as giving a new shape to Marathi-non-Marathi politics. Although such issues have arisen before due to the 80% non-Marathi population in the city, this time it has emerged in an intense form. Ignoring the opposition of the Marathi Integration Committee, the BJP has shown its strength, and now the municipal work will proceed under the leadership of Dimple Mehta and Dhruv Kishore Patil.