AIMIM Corporator Disqualified in BMC After Caste Certificate Invalidated

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Mayor Ritu Tawde announced on Monday, June 22, 2026, that AIMIM corporator Shamir Ramzan Patel has been disqualified from his post. The decision was made during the civic body's general body meeting after the District Caste Scrutiny Committee declared his caste validity certificate invalid.

This is the second disqualification of a BMC corporator on similar grounds. Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Deepak Sawant from ward number 111 (Kanjurmarg) was disqualified after his caste certificate was also found invalid. Sawant's disqualification reduced the Shiv Sena (UBT)'s strength in the civic body from 65 to 64.

Patel had contested from a reserved seat for the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and represented Ward No. 137 in Govandi. Following his disqualification, Ayesha Rafiq of the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), who came second to Patel in the election, is likely to be elected as the new corporator for that ward.

The Mayor's announcement underscores the importance of valid caste documentation for candidates contesting reserved seats. The District Caste Scrutiny Committee's role is to verify the authenticity of such certificates, and any invalidation can lead to disqualification from the elected post.