The nine nominated councillors in the Chandigarh municipal corporation (MC) are in the line of fire as seven of them have remained tonguetied in the past four years of their tenure.
The minutes of the MC House meetings of four years reveal that only two nominated councillors took up the civic issues on regular basis. The very purpose of appointing nominated councillors, who are experts in their respective fields, stands defeated as they failed to come up with new ideas to improve the functioning of the MC and the civic conditions in the city.
Considered apolitical, they have no qualms about wearing their political affiliations on their sleeves. They remain the make-or-break factor in the mayoral elections.
In past four years, they supported the Congress in the mayoral elections and this year, they helped the BJP win the elections.
Of the 35 MC councillors, 26 are elected and the rest are nominated —25% of the House strength.
The minutes of 48 House meetings held in the past four years reveal that only two nominated councillors — Surinder Bahga and Major DS Sandhu (retd) — spoke on various issues.
{{/usCountry}}The minutes of 48 House meetings held in the past four years reveal that only two nominated councillors — Surinder Bahga and Major DS Sandhu (retd) — spoke on various issues.
{{/usCountry}}The nominated councillors are appointed for five years by the UT administrator.