Mumbai: Mayor Ritu Tawde has again found herself in a spot, this time over a letter allegedly written by her on March 4 to education committee chairperson Rajshree Shirwadkar recommending the appointment of Shrenik Kotecha as an honorary advisor for new educational initiatives being implemented in BMC schools.The controversy erupted after reports surfaced about Kotecha’s association with MT (Mahesh Tutorials) Educare. MT Educare recently shut down all its coaching centres, leaving thousands of students in the lurch. Kotecha, however, was associated with MT Educare only until 2021.Tawde has denied writing the letter.Observers said the recent controversies involving the mayor are a result of rivalry within the BJP.Tawde later told mediapersons that she did not even know who Shrenik Kotecha was and that the letter had neither been inwarded in her office nor outwarded from it. Therefore, she said, she could not have signed the letter without it being officially inwarded. Tawde further said that the letter was fake and that the signature on it was also fake.Shirwadkar said that she had received the letter and had forwarded it.The alleged letter said it was the need of the hour to improve the quality of education in BMC schools, and to implement various innovative educational initiatives as per the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP). It stated that Kotecha is a national-level educationist and a member of the steering committee set up by the state government for the implementation of the NEP. The letter stated that Kotecha had requested that he be appointed as an honorary advisor for new educational initiatives being implemented in BMC schools and that he had been in the education field for a long time.Subsequently, Shirwadkar wrote to additional commissioner Avinash Dhakne, requesting appropriate action as per the rules, citing the alleged mayor’s letter recommending Kotecha’s appointment as an advisor. Those in the know of the workings of the mayor’s office said that the appointments eventually had to be made by the education department and the mayor had no role in that.
