Mumbai Ward Disqualifications Leave Residents Without Civic Representatives

Several Mumbai neighborhoods no longer have the local representatives they elected.

Some corporators were removed after officials said their caste certificates were invalid.

One other ward became vacant because its corporator died.

The removed corporators have challenged the decisions in court.

Courts have temporarily stopped their opponents from automatically taking the seats.

This means residents do not know who is responsible for solving local problems.

In Govandi, people paid their own money to clear a flooded drain.

Other residents say work on roads, water supplies and sanitation has also slowed.

The final outcome will depend on court and election decisions.