Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Shinde Sena Corporator Disqualified After Scheduled Tribe Certificate Invalidated
Sulekha Chavan was a member of the Thane city council.
She won her seat without anyone running against her.
The seat was reserved for a Scheduled Tribe candidate.
Chavan used a Scheduled Tribe certificate to contest the election.
Tribal groups questioned whether the certificate was genuine.
A government committee examined it and declared it invalid on June 16.
Because the certificate was invalidated, Chavan lost her council position.
The decision has also caused political criticism of the ruling Shiv Sena faction.
Sulekha Sudhakar Chavan was disqualified as a Thane Municipal Corporation corporator.
The disqualification followed the invalidation of her Scheduled Tribe certificate.
Chavan had won Ward No. 5 'A' uncontested as a Shinde Sena candidate.
The Scheduled Tribe Certificate Verification Committee in Dhule invalidated her certificate on June 16.
Thane Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao notified the Konkan Divisional Commissioner and sent supporting documents.
- Who
- Sulekha Sudhakar Chavan, a Shinde Sena corporator and wife of late former corporator Sudhakar Chavan.
- What
- She was disqualified from the Thane Municipal Corporation after her Scheduled Tribe certificate was declared invalid.
- When
- The certificate was invalidated on June 16; the disqualification was reported on September 10.
- Where
- The seat was in the Thane Municipal Corporation, while the certificate was reviewed by a committee in Dhule.
- Why
- The Scheduled Tribe Certificate Verification Committee found her caste validity certificate invalid, triggering termination under election laws.
- Corporator
- Sulekha Sudhakar Chavan
- Political faction
- Shiv Sena faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde
- Municipal body
- Thane Municipal Corporation
- Ward
- Ward No. 5 'A'
- Election result
- Chavan was elected unopposed
- Certificate decision
- The Scheduled Tribe Certificate Verification Committee in Dhule declared her certificate invalid on June 16
- Administrative action
- Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao informed the Konkan Divisional Commissioner