Local body polls to avoid possible rebellion, Mahyuti may offer co-opted seats to rural workers

“This will give an opportunity to workers who work for the society but have no capacity to contest elections, to participate in the process of development. This will make the functioning of the local bodies more effective and inclusive,” said the Bawankule’s letter. The Chief Minister has forwarded the letter to the Principal Secretary of the Rural Development Department for the further review.

According to sources, the move aims to pacify possible rebellion within the Mahayuti parties. “The local body elections are an opportunity for the ruling parties to increase their mass base and strengthen the organisation. With three ruling parties in the state, it is bound to increase the possibility of rebellion. With the government plan of introducing co-opted members, those who will not get the ticket can be kept on the hope of backdoor entry in the local body.” said a functionary of the BJP. The party winning the local body will have an upper hand in appointing co-opted members, which means its workers will get another chance to enter the local body.

At present, urban local bodies can have co-opted corporators, based on the respective strength of the party in the elected house. These co-opted corporators get no voting right and no representation in statutory committees like standing, education, improvement etc. “In the legislative council, the governor appoints individuals from various fields as MLCs. Nominated corporators exist in urban local bodies as well. Similar amendments should be made for rural local bodies,” said the functionary.

Opposition leader and Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, dismissed the move, calling it an attempt to quell the brewing dissent within the ruling alliance. “This move is planned to control the growing anarchy within the ruling alliance. The ruling alliance has realised that it is not going to win local polls and therefore it is trying to keep its workers united by such tricks,” said opposition and Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar.

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