Political rivalry between the Shiv Sena and the BJP over the nomination of Bhalchandra Shirsat as a standing committee member has cost the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) a whopping Rs 1.04 crore. Reply to an RTI query has revealed that the money was spent by the civic body for a legal fight in the High Court and then in the Supreme Court over the issue. RTI activist Anil Galgali had sought details from BMC’s legal department about the expenses incurred in the court battles. As per the reply, the civic body approached both the courts as the Sena opposed BJP’s nomination of Shirsat as a standing committee member. 

Sena corporator and house leader Vishakha Raut raised the objection in the standing committee meeting on October 21, 2020, saying that it was not in accordance with the Municipal Corporation Act, 1888. Then standing committee Chairman Yashwant Jadhav announced that Shirsat’s selection as a standing committee member was not legal and asked him to leave the meeting.