The Times of India                21.04.2013

PMC to update voters' list for civic byelection

PUNE: The Pune municipal corporation (PMC) will update the voters' list for the ward panel number 40 byelection. The seat fell vacant after KalpanaBahirat, the Maharashtra NavnirmanSena (MNS) corporator, was disqualified for submitting fake documents to contest the 2011 civic election.

The draft voters' list for the election was published on Monday. The notice has been issued as per the guidelines given by the state election commission. It will be available for scrutiny at the election office, Savarkar Bhavan, Shivajinagar and at Dhole Patil Road ward office.

"The draft voters' list for ward 40 has been compiled using the voters' list for Cantonment assembly constituency. It will be available for scrutiny during office hours. Voters can give their suggestions and objections till May 28 in writing to the election office, Savarkar Bhavan, Shivajinagar and at Dhole Patil Road Ward office. The final voters' list will be published on June 7, 2013, " the notice said.

Municipal commissioner Mahesh Pathak had disqualified Bahirat in March. She represented panel number 40 (Mangalwar Peth area). She had allegedly submitted a fake caste certificate to contest the 2011 civic election. She then filed a petition in the Bombay high court, challenging her disqualification which was rejected in April. The court had directed her to pay Rs 25,000 as fine for forging the documents and cheating authorities.

With 29 corporators, MNS was the second largest party in the civic body. So the post of leader of opposition was given to MNS. However, with the disqualification of Bahirat, the MNS strength was reduced to 28 in the civic body. The Congress, which also has 28 members, had staked a claim as the largest opposition party. They also forfeited the post of the leader of the opposition which was then given to the Congress in April.