Unconstitutional,say mayors

Peeved by the proposed amendments in UP Nagar Palika Act,1916,the UP chapter of All India Council of Mayors has termed them as unconstitutional.

Dinesh Sharma,Mayor of Lucknow who also heads the UP chapter of All India Mayor Council,said that before initiating the process of amendment,the government should have sought opinion of urban local bodies,which are duly elected bodies under the Constitution. It is regrettable that the UP government preferred to ignore the established norms of a democratic polity, he said.

Sharma said already a large portion of development funds in big towns is spent on undeveloped and under-developed areas and for the urban poor. Nobody can object to the generous intention of the state government for the urban poor and the slum areas. The issue is neither the poor nor the slum areas,but the narrow political agenda being pursued by the ruling BSP. The party may make some short terms gains,but at the cost of irreparable damage to the institution of the municipal bodies, he added.

Earlier,the BSP government had announced amendments in the election process of urban local bodies without consulting the elected local bodies, said Sharma pointing to the UP governments decision not to hold civic polls on party lines. He said the state government is keen to abolish direct election of the mayor,and introduce indirect election by corporators,which would promote horse trading.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram