Hyderabad: Tough civic law may hit polls

Hyderabad: The stringent provision in the new Municipal Act with regard to unseating of elected representatives based on the decision of the collector may impact the number of people willing to participate in the forthcoming municipal elections.

Many leaders said that the clause which specifies that an elected representative will lose the seat if he or she is pronounced guilty of corruption, financial malfeasance and misuse of power will dissuade candidates.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had said on the floor of the House in the recent two-day special session to pass the Municipal Act that this penal provision may not be liked by some politicians who are interested in the civic body polls but it would pave the way for sincere leaders who want to serve the people without any self-interest.

Explaining the features of the legislation, Mr Rao said, “We will encourage leaders having the desire to serve the people.”

TRS leaders and some ministers in private said that the provision to suspend or remove an elected representative existed in earlier laws.

But, in those cases, the minister had the power to stay any such proceeding initiated by the collector.

That power has been usurped in the Municipal Act. If the collector passes the removal order after following due procedure under the Act, the only recourse left with the elected member is to go to court. MLAs and ministers with their powers have been taken out of the picture.

A TRS leader said that this provision may leave a good impression with the people but would discourage politicians from contesting elections in view of the huge money involved in the elections.

This provision drew opposition from both the Congress and the BJP.

Congress leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka oppo-sed the provision stating that giving more powers to the collectors under the Act which will demoralise the elected representatives.

On Friday, BJP leaders led by former Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya met Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan asking him to send back the Telangana Municipalities Act.

According to BJP national executive member N. Ramchander Rao, “Collectors have been given sweeping powers to dismiss corporators. Coming under political influence, the collectors could dismiss a municipal chairman belonging to an Opposition party. In a democracy, such law can be misused. The BJP, therefore, opposes these provisions.”

Responding to the criticism, the Chief Minister had told the Assembly that the government had faith in the All India Service Officers as they have more exposure to government and people.