Pune Civic Body Sees Backdoor Entry for Ticket-Denied Aspirants as Co-opted Members
Political aspirants in Pune who failed to secure party tickets for the Pune Municipal Corporation elections are now exploring alternative routes to enter the civic body. They aim to become co-opted members, offering a backdoor entry into the house of corporators.
Distribution of Nominated Seats Among Parties
The general body of the PMC comprises 165 corporators. Among these, 13 members will receive nominations as co-opted members. The Bharatiya Janata Party holds a dominant position with 119 corporators. This strength allows the BJP to co-opt up to 10 members.
The Nationalist Congress Party can nominate two individuals. The Congress party gets the opportunity to induct one member. This allocation follows the provisions of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act.
BJP's Stance on Nominations
The BJP previously decided against giving nominations to relatives of current MLAs and MPs for the elections. The party may extend this policy to co-opted members as well. Ganesh Bidkar, a newly elected BJP corporator and former leader of the house, provided insights.
"We will discuss the details about the co-ops in the coming days," Bidkar stated. "The core team will take a final call soon." His comments indicate ongoing deliberations within the party regarding nomination criteria.
Process for Appointing Nominated Members
PMC officials expect a lottery system to choose the mayor within one week. Once the mayor finalizes, he or she will call a general body meeting. Following this meeting, the appointment of nominated members will proceed based on the MMC Act.
The Act imposes specific limitations on the powers of nominated corporators. It clearly states that a nominated councillor shall not have the right to vote at any meeting of the corporation. They also cannot vote in committees of the corporation.
Furthermore, nominated members cannot get elected as mayor of the corporation. They cannot become chairperson of any committees within the corporation. Despite these restrictions, officials clarify that the 13 nominated members can actively participate in discussions.
They retain the right to raise suggestions and voice objections to proposals. This allows them to contribute to civic governance without voting privileges.
NCP's Approach to Co-opted Members
Pradeep Deshmukh, executive president of the NCP, commented on their party's process. "A decision on the co-opted members will be taken by party chief Ajit Pawar," Deshmukh said. "A meeting in this regard will be held soon."
He added that the party currently focuses on preparations for the zilla parishad polls. They are also engaged in selecting candidates for these elections, indicating a busy political calendar.
Ward-Level Nominations and Criteria
PMC officials note that co-opted corporators exist not only at the general body level but also at the ward level. These members become part of ward committees. They work alongside elected corporators to address local issues.
The MMC Act specifies criteria for these ward-level nominations. Nominated members must come from recognized non-government organizations. They should belong to community-based organizations engaged in social welfare activities.
These organizations must operate within the area of the ward committee. Additionally, individuals nominated must be registered as electors in the wards under the committee's jurisdiction. This ensures local connection and accountability.
The system of co-opted members provides a pathway for political engagement beyond direct elections. It allows parties to incorporate diverse perspectives while adhering to legal frameworks. Pune's civic administration continues to navigate these processes as it shapes its governing body for the coming term.
