For the past 16 months, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has been functioning without several ward officers—assistant municipal commissioners (AMCs). According to Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray, this is the reason behind the mess the city is currently in.

“If you’re wondering why Mumbai’s infrastructure and monsoon management has completely collapsed, it’s simple: for many months, 9 municipal wards are without assistant commissioners (ward officers). Gaddars (traitors) have chosen their favourite junior officials not from the assistant commissioner cadre to run their corrupt will in the ward, under obligations. Mumbai is facing dual loot under the khoke regime: loot of its money and reputation,” Aaditya tweeted on Friday.