Leaders of the Aghadi, which was floated by Naik last year, have pleaded with the Konkan divisional commissioner to disqualify the nine corporators under the Anti-Defection Act. Aghadi corporator M P Mhatre said in his petition that under the Act, a group could escape action if one-third of the members quit a particular party to form a parallel party. But if some members from the parallel party decided to return to the parent body, they would need the strength of at least two thirds of the parallel organisation to escape action.

At the time of the Aghadi's formation, a majority of the then Sena corporators quit en masse and became the single largest party in NMMC. But of late, the Sena regained its position as the single largest party with nine Aghadicorporators switching their loyalties back to Sena supremo Bal Thackeray.

Aghadi spokesman Ashok Pohekar, former chairman of NMMC transport committee, said the Konkan commissioner Sarvaree Gokhale has fixed April 28 as the date for hearing. ``As far as we are concerned the defectors have ceased to be corporators,'' Pohekar, who is co-petitioner along with Mhatre added. The corporators who have gone back to the Sena are Sunita Pingle, Mohan Sadhvi, Parvati Kotkar, Madhuri Parab, Devram Patil, Shatrughan Dabhade, Manohar Joshi, Malti More and Nandu Chavan.The Aghadi has already come to an understanding for an alliance with Congress at NMMC and accordingly fought the standing committee elections.