Panels may replace single corporators

Govt considers change in ways local bodies are elected, favours election of panels to individuals; decision yet to betaken

The Congress-led state government is mulling changes to make the BMC, the country's richest municipality, more plural.

It may do away with a single corporator-led constituency system in favour of a panel-governed corporation.
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The panel system would require citizens to vote for a panel of candidates to oversee the city, rather than electing an individual as corporator for a ward.

The alteration was one among several that was weighed in a Cabinet meeting last Friday to discuss changes in the elections to the local self-government, including municipal councils and corporations across the state.
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The powers of right to recall local representatives, such as members of Panchayat Samitis and Zilla Parishads are also said to have figured in the discussion.

However, the cabinet felt that the merits and demerits of the system have to be studied before adopting it.
"These subjects came up for discussion.

But a decision has not been taken. Only after a cabinet sub-committee or a group of ministers studies the issues can we arrive at a decision," said a cabinet minister on condition of anonymity.

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The Cabinet did consent to authorising the CM to disqualify mayor, deputy mayor and corporators. However, the disqualified member can challenge the government's decision in the High Court. It agreed to make some important amendments in the acts governing municipal corporations in the state, which the CM may decide upon, on the basis of the municipal commissioner's recommendation.