Congress-BJP cross swords over ordinance for indirect polls to mayor

BHOPAL: The delay by governor Lalji Tandon in giving assent to the ordinance moved by the Madhya Pradesh cabinet for indirect elections to the post of mayor and chairpersons of municipal bodies, has triggered a political row between the main opposition BJP and the ruling Congress. The face-off between the governor and state government has also reached the central leadership of both the parties.
The BJP had last week urged the governor that elections to the post of mayor should be held directly in order to promote a fair democratic process and check corruption. Congress said the governor should not encourage wrong traditions by going against the state government's actions.
Raising objection over delay in approval by the governor, Congress Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha said that the decision by state cabinet to move an ordinance was collective and approved by the legislative assembly. Governor should not divert the process and follow the tradition, he asserted.
"Governor Lalji Tandon had been an able administrator. Under the Constitution, the governor in a state should take decisions on the recommendations made by the state cabinet. This is `Raj Dharm (duty of the ruler) and governor must clear this bill. He should not stall the ordinance. This would be a `wrong tradition'," said Tankha, on Sunday.
The Congress leader and constitutional expert also reacted on social media posts which stirred a political debate on the process of civic elections in the state. The BJP, who had submitted a memorandum to the governor to withhold the ordinance and vehemently opposed the Congress government's move, has turned more vocal.
"The minority Congress government is trying to suppress democratic values, encouraging corruption and creating instability. Lawmaker Tankha is not talking as a constitutional expert but a Congress leader. Does the ruling party want the governor to behave like a `rubber stamp? The governor has his own views keeping public interest and legalities in mind. He is free to take his decisions," reacted former BJP minister Umashankar Gupta, who is also the organisation secretary of all-India mayors council.
The decision to amend previous rules governing the municipal body elections and reinstate the earlier system of indirect election of mayors and chairpeRead More – Source