BJP’S MAHESH BALADI IS UMC PRESIDENT

BJP councilor Mahesh Baladi was elected unopposed on Thursday as the president of Uran Municipal Council (UMC). Shiv Sena’s Sujata Gaikwad has been elected as the vice- president.

UMC has a ruling alliance of Shiv Sena-BJP-PWP which has 13 of the 17 seats in the council. As per an agreement between the alliance partners, the Shiv Sena and the BJP are to share the post of the president of the council for two and half years each.

While the election of a BJP councilor was initially expected in normal course, the delay in the resignation by the Shiv Sena councilor, Ganesh Shinde, who was the president, led to the political atmosphere heating up.

A source said: “The matter then reached the top leaders in the state and a decision was taken to ensure that the alliance stays. This led to the situation being resolved.”

Shinde resigned following which the elections for the post were announced. Baladi, who is considered the top BJP leader in the region and is reportedly close to central minister Nitin Gadkari was nominated by his party for the post.

The election was conducted by presiding officer Nitin Chavan. Both the posts had received just one nomination each and hence the duo were elected unopposed.

Panvel BJP MLA Prashant Thakur along with other alliance leaders were present for the election and congratulated the winning duo.