Amid the BMC elections preparations, Colaba AAP candidate Margaret DaCosta, was unable to file her nomination papers for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, alleging procedural lapses and selective enforcement of election norms at the nomination centre. The incident occurred on 1 January, when DaCosta arrived at the Booth office at around 11:00 a.m.
While filing her papers, she alleged that the place was crowded with people who were not even contesting candidates, creating chaos and disruption. Margaret DaCosta couldn’t reach the RO office due to the slow procedure, missing the deadline by 3 minutes.
DaCosta alleged that Harshita Narvekar was posing for photographs, which was prohibited in the vicinity. Harshita Narvekar is the sister-in-law of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker and BJP MLA Rahul Narvekar, contesting ward number 225 in Colaba.
She added, “There was blatant misuse of power because one of Narvekar’s contestant, Harshita, was there. She was posing with people outside and nobody took an objection because the police allowed her to pose in front of cameras.”
DaCosta also accused the police of using force against AAP workers who remained near the office after 10 p.m.
Following the incident, AAP has filed a complaint regarding the issue and the Police Commissioner has agreed that the problem arose at the booth office, for which he has directed the Election Commissioner to submit a report on the matter.
Colaba Ward is being contested by Sujata Sanap (Shiv Sena – team Shinde), Ajinkya Dhatrak from Sena UBT and Independent candidate Dr. Laura D’Souza.
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