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Need for directly elected mayors

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July 12, 2017

Why in news?

Maharashtra cabinet has recently approved a proposal for direct election of the village sarpanch, the head of the gram panchayat, who was earlier elected indirectly by elected representatives.

Why direct elections are proposed?

  • The 73rd and 74th amendments created Panchayat at Village levels and Municipalities and Municipal Corporations in towns and large cities.
  • The amendments aimed for division of powers and functions.
  • It called for a 3 tier system.
  • All the members of these three level are elected.
  • Further, the chairperson of panchayats at the intermediate and district levels are indirectly elected from amongst the elected members.
  • However the resources and the powers continue to be vested with the state governments, which are reluctant to delegate them to LSGs.
  • So the proposals are made for direct elections of LSG authorities to bring into materialize the vision of the institution.

What are the problems with the office of mayor?

  • Head of the municipal corporation, the mayor, functions merely as a ceremonial authority.
  • Executive decisions are largely carried out by the municipal commissioner appointed by the state government.
  • Short tenure of mayors in many states which is hardly enough to create lasting changes in a large metropolis.
  • Sometimes, directly elected mayors run into corporations dominated by members of rival political parties creating difficulty in day to day governance.

What should be done?

  • A private member bill suggested a provision for a mayor-in-council that would be nominated by the directly elected mayor.
  • Such a council, with an executive role, has existed in Kolkata and has performed reasonably well.
  • Direct elections for Mayor will go a long way in accomplishing the goals of democratic decentralisation.

 

Source: Livemint

1 comments
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vinod 7 years

"mayor-in-council that would be nominated by the directly elected mayor"

how can this be called a direct election by people if Mayor nominates some other person ????

IAS Parliament 7 years

Mayor would be directly elected. Mayor-in-council would be a legislative body that would be nominated by Mayor to aid him.

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