E-Paper
Municipal Act fails to clear confusion
The Haryana Municipal Act does not allow MLAs and MP to cast their votes for the coveted mayor's post of the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG), according to the Gurgaon administration.
The Haryana Municipal Act does not allow MLAs and MP to cast their votes for the coveted mayor's post of the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG), according to the Gurgaon administration.
However, Congress leaders do not agree with the administration’s claim. Congress leaders said the MP has the right to cast a vote in the case of tie in the mayor elections. MP of Gurgaon constituency Rao Inderjit Singh represents Congress.
The administration, which is yet to notify and announce the date for the election to the mayor’s post, stated that it would be held within a month, following a proper notification. The most likely date is June 14, as the MCG elections were held on May 15.
Thirty-five councillors were elected, and the mayor would be a person with at least 18 votes.
TK Sharma, divisional commissioner, Gurgaon, said the Haryana Municipal Act, 1994, allowed only elected municipal representatives to cast their votes for deciding who can become the mayor.
“As per the Act, neither MLAs nor the MP are allowed to participate in the election process for the mayor. In the case of a tie, a decision would be taken through draw of lots,” said Sharma.
However, according to the political analysts, Section 4 of the Haryana Municipal Act states that MLAs or the MP - except for the elected councillors - can elect the mayor. They said state governments were asked to amend the Municipal Act, as had been done by the Delhi government.
Singh met CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda in New Delhi on Monday to discuss the issue.
