Govt decides to give councillors power to remove presidents through voting

AAP spokesperson Mukund Kirdat said,”I don’t think the decision will be implemented immediately. It will have to be incorporated into the Maharashtra Municipalities, Municipal Councils and Industrial Cities Act. And then the government will be required to issue an ordinance,” he said.

Kirdat said it seems the government has not included municipal corporations in its latest decision. ”Even otherwise, corporators of municipal corporations can pass a no-confidence in the general body meetings and get the mayor removed. The mayor is elected by the civic general body meetings among the corporators after their parties nominate them. However, it is rarely heard that mayors are removed in such a manner,” he said.

Congress spokesperson Gopal Tiwari said,”The intention of the government is not clear. Though councils and nagar panchayats have been included in its reforms, municipal corporations have been left out. Also, there is no clarity as to where the president, if removed by elected members, can take up his case. If the state government does not listen, he will always approach the courts and get a stay. This will only further complicate the matter.”

Meanwhile, in another move, the state cabinet also approved the Amnesty Scheme for overdue property taxes from citizens in the jurisdiction of the municipal councils, municipal corporations and industrial townships. The government is said it intends to waive two percent penalty on overdue property taxes. Officials said the penalty is levied every month on the overdue amount which discourages citizens from paying their taxes. ”The latest decision will allow citizens to pay their overdue taxes without the burden of the penalties,” he said.