Congress demands early Guwahati Municipal Corporation elections

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Congress party has strongly demanded that the State government, as well as the SEC (State Election Commission), must urgently hold the pending elections for all municipal and other LCBs (Local Self Government Bodies) as enumerated in the Constitutional provisions and also for working in the better interest of residents of the State.

This was stated by Kushal Kumar Sarmah, former Mayor of GMC (Guwahati Municipal Corporation) and senior Congress leader Swapan Das while interacting with media persons at the Rajiv Bhawan here on Thursday. He said this in the presence of former GMC Councillor and president of the Guwahati City District Congress Committee, Uttam Sarkar, as well as former GMC Councillor and APCC (Assam Pradesh Congress Committee) member.

Sarmah added, "The GMC (Guwahati Municipal Corporation) is a constitutionally affiliated body for Local Self Government. But the election process for this body did not take place for the last three years after the expiry of the term of its earlier elected representatives. Different bodies of the State government namely GDD, Housing and Urban Development Department and even the State Election Commissioner have not given the required attention for holding the polls. Thus, the citizens are being deprived from the service of GMC in a proper way. The INC (Indian National Congress) and its former councilors have expressed their strong resentment for the same.

"It is noteworthy to recollect that the 74th amendment of the Constitution of India which was passed in the Parliament way back in 1992 declared the municipal bodies as a form of 'Local Self Government'. Section 243(U)(3) of the Indian Constitution which is related to municipal bodies declares that election for such bodies should be conducted before the expiry of the term of its earlier elected representatives.

"By a Gazette Notification (No. 379) which was published on September 4, 2019, the Assam Government declared the requisite qualifications for a candidate who wishes to become an elected representative. The same notification declared the end of the 'Assam Nagar Raj Act-2007' in the areas of GMC by incorporation of Section 445 in the 'Guwahati Municipal Act'.

"Subsequently, another gazette notification which was published on May 26, 2020, declared the modifications in Sections 51, 52, 53 and 54 of Guwahati Municipal Act which empowered the State Election Commission to do the needful for holding election of GMC. The INC and its former councilors have expressed their surprise and concern for the reason that in spite of the above mentioned notifications, the State Election Commissioner has failed in its duty for implementation of the same.

"As the State government has geared up for holding the by-elections in the State, it is believed that the restrictions for holding the elections in all municipal bodies of the State have come to an end.

"It is pertinent to mention that in spite of having the Constitutional provisions for decentralization of power through these local bodies, the Minister of the State government is enjoying all the powers vested on these bodies taking advantage of not having elected representatives in these bodies. It is a serious threat to the Constitutional provisions by the State government."

The State Congress party has further noted that most of such LGBs are functioning with its elected members throughout the country outside Assam.

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