Wednesday, the Maharashtra cabinet approved the decision to reimpose the system of electing multiple councillors or corporators from wards in all municipal corporations and councils in the state.
Maha Vikas Aghadi government hopes to firm up its hold on urban local bodies across the state. Currently, the state follows a single-member ward system.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is to be exempt from the changes in policy and continue forward with a single-member ward system.
Multi-Member to Single-Member and Back to the Start
Earlier, the Devender Fadnavis-led government had Amended a 1965 Act for Maharashtra Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats and Industrial Townships.
It changed the multi-member electoral panel to a one-member ward system. The present government seeks to undo this change and revert to multi-member wards.
“The Covid situation, ground reality brought to notice by elected representatives and importance of collective representation to carry out responsibility has led to the roll back,” said an Urban Development Department official.
Mumbai, unlike other localities in Maharashtra, is governed by Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act. Thus, the revert to a multi-member electoral panel will not apply to the city, which will continue to have one civic head.
Three Member Electoral Panels
The electoral panels will have three members heading it as far as possible. In certain places where necessitated less or more members can be instated.
However, four is the maximum number of members appointed to the electoral panel for any civic body.
Once formalised by way of an ordinance, the decision will come into effect for municipal corporations of Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Thane, Ulhasnagar, Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Panvel, Mira-Bhayander, Solapur, Nashik, Malegaon, Parbhani, Nanded-Waghala, Latur, Amravati, Akola, Nagpur and Chandrapur, which go to polls in February-March 2022.
Over 50 municipal councils, including Baramati, Digras, Kandhar, Indapur, Kannad, Lonavala, Buldhana, Udgir, Paithan, Alibag, Beed, among others, are scheduled to go for polls between January and March 2022.
Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act
In addition, to change the Maharashtra Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats and Industrial Townships Act, the state cabinet has also approved the decision to amend the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act and Maharashtra Corporation Ordinance.
The change would ensure reservation in urban local civic bodies does not cross the 50% mark while securing 27% reservation for OBCs.
The last cabinet passed a similar amendment for rural local bodies. Sources said the decision would help the MVA politically in the polls.
The smaller panel size chosen by voters shifts their focus on the candidate rather than the party. It would help the three allies to field candidates whenever possible.
The decision would also help the MVA overcome caste and gender-based reservations in local bodies. Collective leadership is more appropriate to fulfil responsibilities.
The State Election Commission said that the multi-member ward system would take effect the day the government amended the law. The bill will not lead to the postponement of the polls.
These changes come in the wake of the political slugfest following the scrapping of the reservation for OBCs in civic bodies by the supreme court of India.
The reservation for OBCs was pushing the total reserved seats to over 50%, which Maharashtra Cabinet has pledged to prevent to remain within the supreme court guidelines while also ensuring representation.
