Chandigarh, September 6: After laying down educational qualifications for candidates contesting elections under Panchayati Raj Institutions, the Manohar Lal Khattar government in Haryana on Wednesday approved direct election of mayors — an obvious bid to strengthen its hold over local bodies.
The Haryana Cabinet gave its nod to the move, which will have an impact on 10 big districts. Sources claimed in cities such as Faridabad and Gurugram the mayors would wield more power than the local MLAs with their area of influence extending to constituencies represented by the latter.
This decision, sources said, was aimed at ensuring the mayors functioned independently, without the councillors’ meddling. “With direct elections, his chair will not be dependent on the support of councillors. Also, it will check horse-trading to catapult a particular candidate to the post,” explained sources.
Elections to five municipal corporations — Hisar, Karnal, Rohtak, Yamunanagar and Panipat — are due in October and may be announced shortly.
The Cabinet’s decision on direct mayoral poll will be notified and the municipal elections held subsequently.
The voters will not only vote for the ward councillor but also the mayor. This is in line with the elections for panches and sarpanches where villagers vote for the sarpanch and the ward panch. Direct elections may also be held for the municipal councils and committees at a later stage.
Source Tribune India
