Bill proposes 5-year tenure for mayors, deputy mayors

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh on Tuesday introduced the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation (2nd Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the Vidhan Sabha, proposing a significant change in the leadership structure of urban local bodies. The Bill seeks to extend the tenure of mayors and deputy mayors from the current two-and-a-half years to a full five-year term, aligning their tenure with that of the Municipal Corporation itself.

The legislation also formally repeals the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, which had introduced similar provisions on a temporary basis through the ordinance route. The amendment focuses on revising Section 36 of the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1994, replacing the requirement for mid-term elections with a provision that allows elected leaders to serve uninterrupted for the entire duration of the corporation.

In cases where the post of mayor or deputy mayor becomes vacant due to death, resignation or a no-confidence motion, a fresh election will be mandated within one month. The newly elected office-bearer will serve only the remainder of the original term.

The government argues that the previous half-term arrangement hindered long-term planning and disrupted project implementation. A five-year tenure, it contends, will ensure continuity, stronger urban governance, and more effective execution of development initiatives.