Need for directly elected mayors

Why in news?

Maharashtra cabinet has recently approved a proposal for direct election of the village sarpanch, the head of the gram panchayat, who was earlier elected indirectly by elected representatives.

Why direct elections are proposed?

• The 73rd and 74th amendments created Panchayat at Village levels and Municipalities and Municipal Corporations in towns and large cities.
• The amendments aimed for division of powers and functions.
• It called for a 3 tier system.
• All the members of these three level are elected.
• Further, the chairperson of panchayats at the intermediate and district levels are indirectly elected from amongst the elected members.
• However the resources and the powers continue to be vested with the state governments, which are reluctant to delegate them to LSGs.
• So the proposals are made for direct elections of LSG authorities to bring into materialize the vision of the institution.

What are the problems with the office of mayor?

• Head of the municipal corporation, the mayor, functions merely as a ceremonial authority.
• Executive decisions are largely carried out by the municipal commissioner appointed by the state government.
• Short tenure of mayors in many states which is hardly enough to create lasting changes in a large metropolis.
• Sometimes, directly elected mayors run into corporations dominated by members of rival political parties creating difficulty in day to day governance.

What should be done?

• A private member bill suggested a provision for a mayor-in-council that would be nominated by the directly elected mayor.
• Such a council, with an executive role, has existed in Kolkata and has performed reasonably well.
• Direct elections for Mayor will go a long way in accomplishing the goals of democratic decentralisation.

Source: Livemint