Understanding BMC's Nominated Corporators: Selection, Eligibility, and Powers
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to welcome ten nominated municipal councillors, adding to the 227 elected representatives following Mumbai's mayoral election. These appointed members play a crucial role in shaping the city's urban policies despite not being elected through public voting.
Political Distribution and Historical Context
For the upcoming term, political parties have received allocated nominations based on their electoral performance. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will have four nominated corporators, while the Shiv Sena (UBT) secures three. The Congress, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena will each have one nominated representative in the House.
This marks a significant increase from previous terms. Between 2017 and 2022, the BMC had only five nominated corporators, with two from BJP, two from the undivided Shiv Sena, and one from Congress. The expansion to ten positions follows a 2023 amendment by Maharashtra's Urban Development Department (UDD), which revised the maximum limit from five to ten nominated members across civic bodies in the state.
Eligibility Criteria and Nomination Process
The provision for nominated corporators was introduced in 1994 through amendments to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) Act. Since these positions aren't filled through elections, candidates must meet specific eligibility requirements established by the state government.
Key eligibility criteria include:
- Minimum five years of experience as a medical practitioner in a civic hospital
- At least five years of service in a recognized non-governmental organization (NGO) operating in Mumbai
- Demonstrated knowledge of municipal laws or labor laws
- Previous service as municipal commissioner for a minimum two-year term
- Experience as assistant municipal commissioner or deputy municipal commissioner for at least five years
Government documents emphasize that the primary purpose of including nominated corporators is to enhance municipal corporation functioning through their specialized knowledge and expertise.
Selection Methodology and Party Allocations
Following election results, the ten nominated seats are distributed among political parties based on their electoral performance. Current regulations stipulate that a party must win at least five elected seats to qualify for a nominated corporator position. Furthermore, for every maximum of twenty elected corporators, a political party receives one nominated representative.
This formula explains the current distribution: BJP, with eighty-nine elected seats, receives four nominated positions. Shiv Sena (UBT), having secured sixty-five seats, gets three nominations. The Shiv Sena, Congress, and AIMIM, with twenty-nine, twenty-four, and eight seats respectively, each receive one nominated corporator.
Powers and Limitations of Nominated Corporators
Nominated corporators participate actively in daily civic proceedings, including raising questions in the House, initiating notice of motions, and presenting points of order. They possess the right to attend special meetings chaired by the municipal commissioner and can provide suggestions and objections regarding BMC's budget and expenditure.
However, significant limitations distinguish them from elected representatives. Nominated corporators do not have voting rights, which excludes them from major statutory committees like the standing committee or improvements committee—bodies responsible for framing key municipal policies.
According to the MMC Act, crucial resolutions and policies pass through these committees via voting processes. Committee chairperson selections also occur through voting mechanisms. As explained by a civic official, "If a political party inducts a nominated member in one of these committees, they lose one vote. This explains why parties avoid placing nominated corporators in statutory committees."
Financial Aspects and Operational Constraints
Financial allocations further differentiate elected and nominated corporators. Elected representatives receive an annual development fund of Rs 1.6 crore, while nominated corporators get Rs 60 lakh annually. Both categories receive a monthly honorarium of Rs 25,000 from the civic body.
Operationally, nominated corporators face additional constraints. Arvind Bhosale, who served as a nominated corporator from the undivided Shiv Sena between 2017 and 2022, explains: "If a nominated corporator wants to undertake developmental work in any Mumbai area, they must obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the sitting elected corporator of that ward. Without this NOC, the nominated person cannot proceed with the work." Bhosale later joined Shiv Sena (UBT) following the party's split.
Expert Perspectives on Nominated Corporators' Role
Bhalchandra Shirsat, who served as a BJP-nominated corporator between 2017 and 2022, highlights the value these appointees bring: "Nominated corporators are typically experienced individuals with long-standing association with the corporation, directly or indirectly. Their knowledge significantly contributes to formulating key policies. Additionally, they can identify flaws in proposed policies or regulations and return them to administration for reconsideration."
This perspective underscores how nominated corporators, despite their limitations, provide valuable expertise that enhances municipal governance quality in India's financial capital.
