Bhopal. The Congress government in Madhya Pradesh is facing problems with new amendments in the civic body elections, let us say that it is now proposed to elect the mayor indirectly.
The Madhya Pradesh cabinet on 25 September approved an amendment to the MP Municipality Act 1961 to ensure that henceforth the heads of the civic bodies will be elected through indirect elections.
Till now the presidents of municipal corporations and mayors of municipal corporations are guided by direct voting by the public. As a result, the heads of civic bodies will not be elected by the public and instead elected councilors and corporators will have the opportunity to elect the head of the concerned body.
The cabinet has approved amendments to the Civil Relations Act after meeting on Wednesday, Public Relations Minister PC Sharma said after the meeting. Soon after this decision, the main opposition party in the state assembly, the BJP protested, saying it would boost horse trading in municipal councils.
Later, on Friday, a BJP delegation called Governor Lalji Tandon and submitted a memorandum stating that they oppose amendment in the process of election of mayors in civic bodies across the state. He urged the governor not to sign the ordinance proposed by the state government. Official sources said that the Governor has made up his mind not to approve the amendment in the Act and has issued a letter to the government seeking clarification on some points.