The missing spotlight on urban local government elections

The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act (CAA) of 1992 aimed to establish Urban Local Governments (ULGs) as key units of decentralized governance in India. However, over 30 years later, its objectives remain unfulfilled, and issues regarding the timely conduct of elections to ULGs have become more prominent. The ongoing discussions on simultaneous elections (One Nation One Election) provide an opportunity to address these issues, particularly the delays and challenges surrounding ULG elections.

Challenges in Conducting Timely Elections to ULGs

• Delays in Elections: Despite the constitutional mandate to hold municipal elections every five years, over 60% of ULGs in India experience delays, some lasting several years. This violates the decentralization principle and reduces the effectiveness of local governance.
• Operationalisation Delays: Even when ULG elections are conducted, the formation of councils is delayed for months, with some states taking an average of 11 months to operationalize the elected councils, rendering elected representatives powerless.
• Impact on Accountability: Delays in conducting ULG elections and operationalizing councils undermine the accountability of elected local bodies, leaving citizens without proper representation or avenues for addressing their grievances.

Disempowerment of State Election Commissions (SECs)

• Lack of Empowerment: The CAG report highlights that only 4 out of 15 states have empowered their SECs to conduct ward delimitation, a crucial task for organizing elections.
• Delays due to Ward Delimitation and Reservations: SECs face delays in conducting elections due to political and judicial interference in the processes of ward delimitation and reservation of seats, which are crucial for fair and democratic elections.
• Need for Independent Authority: To ensure the smooth conduct of elections, it is essential that ward delimitation and reservation functions are carried out by independent bodies like the SECs rather than being subject to political influence.

Reforms and the Way Forward for ULG Elections

• High Level Committee (HLC) Recommendations: The HLC's recommendation to synchronize ULG elections with the Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections within 100 days is a step forward in addressing the delay issues.
• Need for Comprehensive Reforms: A comprehensive reform plan is needed to address the core issues hindering ULG elections, including the delay in conducting elections, operationalising elected bodies, and empowering the SECs.
• Government’s Commitment to Reform: The Government of India has proposed setting up an implementation group to prepare an action plan for these reforms, with consultations planned across the country to ensure that local democracy is strengthened.

Practice Question:

Q. Evaluate the challenges faced in the timely conduct of elections to Urban Local Governments (ULGs) in India. Discuss the potential reforms necessary to strengthen local democracy and improve the functioning of ULGs.