Pilot reiterates change in municipal law ‘unfair’

Thereafter, another amendment was made (by the state government) to appoint mayor without contesting councillor elections. I believe that this is unfair

JAIPUR: State Congress chief Sachin Pilot on Tuesday once again reiterated that the state government’s decision, which allowed anyone, even a nonelected person, to become a mayor in Rajasthan, is “unfair and should be reconsidered”.

Immediately after the Gehlot government announced the new civic rule, two ministers of the government and later Pilot, who is also the deputy chief minister, had voiced their dissent against it.

On October 16, the local self government department notified the Rajasthan Municipal (Elect i on) (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2019, according to which any citizen can stand for election to the posts of mayor and chairperson. The new rules are an amendment to the rule 78 of the Rajasthan Municipalities (Election) Rules, 1994.

Addressing reporters in Bharatpur district, Pilot said, “I have told this earlier also – our government spoke of direct elections and brought an amendment. Thereafter, we stated that person s hould be people’s choice. The entire issue was reconsidered, suggestion of workers and leaders were taken by a committee constituted under UDH minister Shanti Dhariwal. The report mentioned that workers in view of the current atmosphere want to have indirect election – the government issued a notification.”

He continued, “Thereafter, another amendment was made to appoint mayor without contesting councillor elections. I believe that this is unfair. When i n 2 0 0 9 t his provision was brought, the mayor was elected through direct elections, but now a person who is not even member of the house…and there is no clarity will the person made mayor will be contesting elections in six months or in time period to get elected.”

Pilot said, “I want that elections should happen through public vote and if nomination is filled without contesting elections to become mayor then there will be cross voting and horse trading – such a message should not be sent in public that Congress through such provisions is moving ahead for back door entry.”

He added, “The state government should reconsider (its decision) and even on October 1 during the Congress session, the CM had stated that work in the government will be done as per party workers leaders.”

On Friday, addressing media persons Pilot had said that the government’s decision will

SACHIN PILOT, deputy CM encourage back door entry for mayor’s post. He said the decision was not discussed in the cabinet or legislature party meetings. Earlier, on Thursday, two ministers of the Gehlot government - Pratap Singh Khachariyawas and Ramesh Meena had expressed their unhappiness over the decision and suggested for its reconsideration.

The deputy CM when asked about Rashtriya Lok Dal role in upcoming civic polls in Bharatpur, he said the Congress when was contesting assembly elections had made alliances with many parties such as Sharad Yadav’s Lok Dal, but only for assembly. “History has it that Congress has fought local bodies and Panchayati Raj election on its own. Till date, there have been no discussions of alliance with any party,” he said.

His comments were asked a day, two ministers -Tourism Minister Vishvendra Singh and Technical Education Minister and RLD MLA Subhash Garg engaged in face-off over alliance with RLD in upcoming Civic polls in Bharatpur.