All India Council of Mayors objects to indirect election of Mayor

All India Council of Mayors have taken umbrage on State Government’s decision to conduct indirect election of Mayor and chairman of local bodies. On Friday, BJP delegation, including Mayor Alok Sharma, MLA Krishna Gaur and ex-minister Umashankar Gupta met Governor Lalji Tandon and presented a memorandum to him by registering strong objection on State Government decision to hold Mayor’s election and local body chairman election in an indirect manner. In the memorandum, they said that in all democratic countries including United States of America, Britain, France etc. people elect Mayor through direct election. By direct election, Mayor can work for people’s welfare and city without any political pressure and compulsion. At present, Mayors of sixteen municipal corporations are doing excellent work for their cities.

Probably, this is the reason that central schemes and state schemes are being implemented in a well manner in Madhya Pradesh. They said that earlier when indirect elections were held then at that time incidents of horse trading of corporators and change of loyalties were happening more. Probably to stop such kind of activities, decision to hold direct election was taken. In the event of indirect election, massive pressure is built on Mayor and sword always hangs on the head of Mayor and in such circumstances, it is difficult for Mayor to do city’s development without any pressure. They alleged that present Kamal Nath government has started to work to weaken the local bodies. The Cabinet decision to hold Mayor election in an indirect manner is harbinger in this regard. Likewise, there is inkling of holding local body election without any party symbol. All India Council of Mayors protests such steps of State Government and requests Governor to put a lid on such decisions of the State Government.