No no-confidence motion against Mundhe at GB: BJP and Congress

Nagpur: An online petition opposing the transfer demand of municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe was submitted to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray after 15,000 people signed it. On Saturday, the petition continued to generate interest and now has more than 24,000 signatories.
In another development, mayor Sandip Joshi has called for a general body meeting on June 20. It is being organized after a gap of three months due to the Covid-19 scare and lockdown. The meeting is to be held not at the usual place of Town Hall in Mahal but at the Suresh Bhat Auditorium in Reshimbagh.
A few days ago, BJP and Congress corporators had threatened to bring a no-confidence motion against Mundhe in the general body. However, Joshi told TOI that only pre-monsoon works (see box) will be discussed at the meeting. Ruling party leader Sandip Jadhav and opposition leader Tanaji Wanve too said there is no plan to move any motion against Mundhe.
Joshi added that the meeting venue has been changed to ensure Covid distancing is maintained and all norms complied with even as Nagpur is approaching mark of 1000 positive cases. Citing steep rise in cases, the state government had postponed its monsoon session from June 22 to August 3.
According to the mayor, all corporators are facing criticism from people due to pending works. “Storm water and sewage drain networks are badly choked and needs repair,” said Joshi.
On a government nod to hold the meet, Joshi said, “I have submitted the notice for the meeting to Mundhe. The agenda too has been issued which means he has given approval.”
The mayor added that the meet is not a “programme or gathering but a forum where policies for the city are discussed”.
Two days ago, ministers of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) from the district and speaker Nana Patole had demanded the transfer of Mundhe. After an FIR was filed against Congress corporator Nitin Sathwane for allegedly obstructing mass quarantine of people of Satranjipura, Jadhav, Wanve and some corporators had warned of the no-confidence motion.
On Friday, an anonymous observer moved an online petition — ‘Nagpur city needs Mr Tukaram Mundhe. We do not want any transfer right now’. Though it has been submitted to the CM, it continues to evoke responses.
Though Covid-19 cases crossed 1 lakh in state, the city has registered below 900 cases and 11 deaths. The central government’s Rapid Response Team and experts had credit fewer cases and mortality to NMC’s mass quarantine and testing model, and innovative measures.
As per general body norms, any corporator can move a no-confidence motion by submitting a proposal three days before the meeting or while discussing issues or by tabling adjournment motion etc.
According to NMC sources, the BJP is keen to see Mundhe out of the way but is apprehensive that the CM may not approve its request. “The Congress leaders have the backing of BJP in this,” they said.
Mundhe became the civic chief in January. He has apparently never completed the three-year term in previous postings.