Mayor a toothless tiger, peon at my office more powerful: Joshi

Chandigarh Mayor Saurabh Joshi on Thursday stirred a controversy by saying that the Mayor is a toothless tiger and the peon at his office is more powerful than him.

Addressing a meeting of the All India Mayors’ Council in Rishikesh, he said, “We cannot resolve issues. Either you give full powers to the Mayor or give nothing.”

During the meeting, Joshi moved a resolution for the establishment of a “National Urban Parliament of India”. He said it would be a platform where elected representatives of urban bodies can deliberate on challenges and contribute towards policy formation.

He emphasised that India was witnessing rapid urbanisation, with cities emerging as the principal drivers of economic growth, innovation, employment generation and public service delivery. He said the proposed National Urban Parliament of India would serve as a national forum comprising Mayors, representatives of municipal councils and nagar palikas, along with special invitees from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and other key stakeholders.

Joshi said while urban local bodies constituted the third tier of governance under the 74th Constitutional Amendment, there was currently no formal institutional mechanism through which elected mayors could jointly articulate the concerns and aspirations of their cities at the national level.

The resolution proposed that the urban parliament would meet annually to deliberate on pressing issues such as urban infrastructure, municipal finance, water supply, sanitation, public transportation, affordable housing, climate resilience, digital governance, environmental sustainability and citizen welfare.

The proposed body would also be empowered to submit policy recommendations, resolutions and position papers to the parliament of India, NITI Aayog, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and the governments in states and union territories.

To address sector-specific challenges, the resolution recommended the constitution of dedicated standing committees on municipal finance and revenue, water supply and sanitation, urban mobility, solid waste management, climate change and environment, public health and urban safety and disaster management.

Joshi also advocated for greater fiscal autonomy for municipal corporations and the strengthening of democratic, transparent and accountable urban governance systems.