MNS sends toy Toyota Innovas to BMC commissioner over vehicle upgrade row

MUMBAI: After BMC’s proposal to replace Mahindra Scorpio SUVs allotted to key political office-bearers in the civic body with six new Toyota Innovas ran into a controversy, MNS office bearers, as a symbolic protest, sent toy Toyota Innova models to the BMC Commissioner.“Our shakha 191 couriered the three Toyota Innova models to the Commissioner, to enable the Commissioner to distribute it among the office bearers, last week. But the courier was not accepted by BMC and it was returned back to us on Monday, " said MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande.Last week, the BMC proposal led to a heated debate in the civic standing committee.The opposition questioned the expenditure, while the ruling BJP accused the opposition of going back on a decision that had been taken unanimously by all political parties.BJP group leader Ganesh Khankar said the controversy was unnecessary as there had been consensus among all parties.The move drew criticism from opposition parties, including Worli MLA Aaditya Thackeray, who questioned the timing of the proposed fleet upgrade and the expenditure involved.In protest, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) office-bearers purchased Toyota Innova models and announced that they would courier them to BMC office-bearers and the civic administration.Khankar also distanced himself from the move, stating that he had never sought new vehicles and had no intention of doing so.In a letter to Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, Khankar said reports suggesting that the civic body was splurging public money on new vehicles had created a wrong impression among Mumbaikars. He further said the opposition had deliberately misrepresented the proposal without taking into account that the vehicles were to be procured on lease under the existing policy.Khankar urged the civic administration to continue with the existing Mahindra Scorpio SUVs and ensure uniformity in vehicle allocation.He requested that all senior civic officers and chairpersons of statutory committees, barring the Municipal Commissioner and the Mayor, be provided Scorpio vehicles of the same category so that there was parity among all functionaries.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Mumbai | Silver Rate in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai | Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Petrol Price in Mumbai | Diesel Price in Mumbai | CNG Price in Mumbai | LPG Price in MumbaiStay updated with the latest Mumbai news. Download the TOI App.