Maharashtra CM Fadnavis refuses to meet all-party delegation seeking removal of Navi Mumbai civic chief Tukaram Mundhe

After he seemed to have thrown his weight behind Navi Mumbai civic chief Tukaram Mundhe, against whom a no confidence motion was passed by corporators, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Saturday refused to meet an all-party delegation seeking removal of the IAS officer from his post.

Earlier in the day, Mayor of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Sudhakar Sonawane led a team comprising members of Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP to meet Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at the latter’s residence here.

“After meeting Thackeray, the delegation went to meet Fadnavis at his residence Varsha here, but he refused to meet them and asked them to get an appointment first,” a BJP source said.

In the no trust motion passed in the NCP-ruled civic body earlier this week, six members of BJP voted against the resolution which was supported by the NCP, Congress and Sena. Sonawane, who has demanded immediate removal of Mundhe, requested Thackeray to speak to Fadnavis in this regard.

Thackeray reportedly assured the delegation that he would put a word with Fadnavis. The Sena chief told reporters that Fadnavis sould respect the decision taken by the NMMC corporators against Mundhe.

“If the CM does not want to respect majority and the decision taken through a democratic way, then he should change rules and withdraw the right of passing of a no-confidence motion from corporators and act according to his own will,” Thackeray said.

He said the CM should think about the reasons behind the corporators closing the ranks to bring the no-trust motion against Mundhe.

“People of Navi Mumbai were harassed by the Commissioner and hence he was sacked. It was not because they (corporators) have majority in their hand and that they used it for their personal interests,” Thackeray said.

Mundhe, popular for his drive against illegal constructions in Navi Mumbai, was accused of “autocratic style of functioning and disrespecting corporators” by the Mayor.

“The CM has to follow the rules. He will implement the resolution. Otherwise, I will have no option than to resign from my post,” Sonawane said.

The fate of the motion rests with Fadnavis who heads the Urban Development Department.

The chief minister had yesterday termed Mundhe as “very efficient” officer and said the state government cannot allow such resolutions to be implemented. “Targeting an officer for doing his duty, exposing irregularities and preventing wrong happenings is absolutely wrong,” Fadnavis had told PTI.