Archive · 9 Sep 2026
Ex-Mumbai Mayor Vishakha Raut Disqualified Over Invalid OBC Certificate
Vishakha Raut was a member of Mumbai’s city council and had also been the city’s mayor.
She won her council seat from a ward reserved for an OBC woman candidate.
A caste-checking committee later said her OBC certificate was not valid.
Because of that decision, she lost her seat in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
Her membership ended on August 20.
The Maharashtra government also said she could not contest elections for six years.
Raut went to the Bombay High Court, but the court rejected her plea about the official process.
She says the government acted against her because of politics.
Officials say the action followed the committee’s decision about her certificate.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Vishakha Raut was disqualified as a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation corporator after her OBC certificate was invalidated.
Her BMC membership ended on August 20, following a decision by the Palghar Caste Scrutiny Committee.
A Maharashtra government resolution also barred Raut from contesting elections for six years.
Raut was elected from Dadar’s Ward No. 191, reserved for women from the OBC category, by 197 votes.
Raut accused the Devendra Fadnavis-led government of political vendetta, while officials cited the invalid certificate as the basis for her removal.
- Who
- Vishakha Raut, a Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former Mumbai mayor, was disqualified as a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation corporator.
- What
- Her BMC membership was terminated after the Palghar Caste Scrutiny Committee invalidated her OBC caste certificate, and she was barred from contesting elections for six years.
- When
- The membership termination took effect on August 20; the development was announced at a Monday general body meeting, with no year specified.
- Where
- The action concerned the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in Mumbai, Maharashtra; Raut had represented Dadar’s Ward No. 191.
- Why
- The Maharashtra government and civic authorities acted after the caste scrutiny committee invalidated Raut’s OBC certificate; Raut says the speed and action reflected political vendetta.
Raut’s Position
Official Position
Reason for disqualification
Raut’s Position
Raut described the action as political vendetta by the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government and said the process appeared pre-decided.
Official Position
Civic and government authorities said her membership ended because the Palghar Caste Scrutiny Committee invalidated her OBC certificate.
Speed of the process
Raut’s Position
Raut questioned why the civic administration moved so quickly after the committee’s decision, contrasting it with the BMC’s reputation for delays.
Official Position
The authorities proceeded with the formal disqualification after the committee’s decision, and the state government issued a resolution confirming it.
Legal challenge
Raut’s Position
Raut approached the Bombay High Court to challenge the action concerning a communication seeking formal disqualification.
Official Position
The Bombay High Court rejected her plea regarding BMC chief Ashwini Bhide’s communication to the state government.
- Position
- Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation corporator and former Mumbai mayor
- Political affiliation
- Shiv Sena (UBT)
- Ward
- Ward No. 191, Dadar
- Election margin
- Raut defeated Priya Sarvankar by 197 votes, receiving 13,236 votes
- Disqualification basis
- Invalidated Other Backward Classes caste certificate
- Effective date
- August 20
- Election ban
- Six years, under a Maharashtra government resolution