BJP targets NMMC DMC on eligibility

Navi Mumbai: Political tensions inside the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) have escalated sharply, with the ruling BJP now moving against Deputy Municipal Commissioner Dr Rahul Gethe, just days after targeting the civic chief.At the centre of the controversy is a motion introduced in the general body seeking Dr Gethe's removal on legal grounds. The BJP-led leadership argues that he does not qualify as a "Chief Officer (Group A)"—the designated feeder cadre for the DMC post under provisions of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, 1949.Dr Gethe, a medical professional from the state public health department, is currently on deputation and has not cleared the state public service commission examination—making him ineligible, according to the note, for permanent absorption into the civic administration. The move is widely seen as political. Both Dr Gethe and Municipal Commissioner Kailas Shinde have come under fire over their perceived proximity to DCM Eknath Shinde. BJP leaders allege that decisions taken during their tenure helped strengthen the Shiv Sena in Navi Mumbai, unsettling the camp of senior minister Ganesh Naik.Dr Gethe's appointment itself traces back to a state notification issued when Shinde held the urban development portfolio. While Section 45(B) of the Act allows deputation appointments for certain posts, a 2021 government notification specifies that only Chief Officers (Group A) can be considered for the DMC role—forming the crux of the current legal challenge.