Congress, CPM stage walkout over changes in MC Act

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 8

The Congress today staged a walkout in the Vidhan Sabha in protest against the changes being made in the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2021.

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The Bill had been introduced in the Vidhan Sabha on March 5 by Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj. The amendments are aimed at making provisions for holding MC elections on party symbol, disqualification under anti-defection law, reservation for the OBCs for the post of Mayor and bringing no-confidence motion by three-fourth MLAs and not half the members.

The Congress and the CPM walked out as the government refused to accede to their demand for either referring it to the Select Committee or incorporate the suggestions made by them. CPM legislator Rakesh Singha, too, opposed the amendments and said if the government was adamant on passing the Bill in its present form, he would challenge it in court. The Bill was passed by voice vote.

Jagat Singh Negi of the Congress said it appeared that the Bill was not well thought out and brought in a haste. “The voting should be on the pattern of the Rajya Sabha or else it will be difficult to find if there is cross-voting. Moreover, when there is a provision for disqualification under the anti-defection law, there was no need for no-confidence motion,” he said.

“The power to disqualify a member under the anti-defection law must be with the State Election Commission, and not with a DC,” Negi said.

Singha demanded that the Bill must be referred to the Select Committee as it could not be passed in its present form. He said he would move court if the government passes the Bill.

The Urban Development Minister, defending the amendments, said in the earlier Act, there was no provision for reservation for the OBCs in the post of Mayor. “I feel that the Opposition must support the proposed amendments to the Bill,” said Bhardwaj.

Provisions

The amendments are aimed at making provisions for holding MC elections on the party symbol, disqualification under the anti-defection law, reservation for OBCs for the post of Mayor and bringing no-confidence motion by three-fourth MLAs and not half the number of members