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State for direct poll to elect municipal council heads

CHANDIGARH: In a development that would strengthen the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) at grassroots level, the Manohar Lal Khattar government has mooted a proposal to hold direct elections to the posts of chairperson of the municipal councils and municipal committees.

State for direct poll to elect municipal council heads

Krishan Kumar Bedi, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister



Pradeep Sharma
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 10

In a development that would strengthen the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) at grassroots level, the Manohar Lal Khattar government has mooted a proposal to hold direct elections to the posts of chairperson of the municipal councils and municipal committees.

A broad consensus on the issue of the direct elections to the posts of chairperson of the civic bodies on the pattern of the direct elections to the mayors of the municipal corporations was reached at an informal meeting of the Haryana Cabinet presided over by the Chief Minister here last night.

Confirming that the Cabinet was “favourably inclined” to the holding of direct elections, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Krishan Kumar Bedi said a formal proposal would be brought at a formal Cabinet meeting soon. “The direct elections to the post of the head of the civic bodies would go a long way in empowering the PRIs at the grassroots level,” he asserted.

By holding direct elections to these posts, the BJP wants to strengthen its hold over the local bodies, especially after its stupendous performance in the five mayoral elections and the recent Lok Sabha elections. The BJP had won all five mayoral elections in Hisar, Karnal, Rohtak, Yamunanagar and Panipat and all 10 Lok Sabha seats.

Besides, the decision would also help the directly elected chairmen of the municipalities to function independently without any meddling by the councillors. It would also check horse-trading which was currently rampant in a majority of the municipalities for the election to the posts of chairperson.

The move is also seen as part of the reforms in the elections to the urban local bodies by the Khattar government. Earlier, the BJP government had laid down educational qualifications for the candidates contesting elections under the PRIs.

There are 84 urban local bodies in the state — 10 municipal corporations, 18 municipal councils and 56 municipal committees.

Besides, voting for mayor and councillors in the cities, people in villages also vote separately for sarpanches and panches in villages. The same voting pattern is set to be replicated in the municipal councils and municipal committees.


To check horse-trading 

  • There are 84 urban local bodies in the state — 10 municipal corporations, 18 municipal councils and 56 municipal committees.
  • State wants to replicate the process of direct mayoral election in municipal corporations for the posts of chairperson of municipal councils, committees.
  • Formal proposal to be brought before Cabinet meeting.
  • Direct elections will check horse-trading for the posts of municipal councils and committees

‘Mini’ vidhan sabhas

To have wide-ranging discussions, the zila parishads will now have a three-day session every three months on the pattern of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. The Chief Minister has already given in-principle approval to the proposal. 

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