Wannabe ULB reps from TRS in a bind over new Municipal Act

Hyderabad: Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leaders aspiring to become corporators/councillors in the urban local bodies are in a Catch-22 situation thanks to the amended Municipal Act.

Last week, the State government had passed the Telangana Municipal Act 2019. In the new Act, the duties of the elected public representatives have been clearly earmarked specifying what they need to do and what are the punishments if they fail to do their primary duties.

Apart from these duties, the discretionary powers given to the District Collectors to dismiss an elected public representative is making the leaders jittery.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao during the discussion on the Municipal Amendment Bill in the Assembly suggested that the political party leaders thoroughly study the Act before contesting.

He wanted the officials and also the political leaders to study the Act and know their duties in the municipalities.

He said someone had to take tough decisions for betterment of the administration and he was taking these steps, and this was the only step for betterment of the civic bodies.

According to the Municipal Act, the corporators should make sure there is 85 per cent greenery in the ward or they would be facing removal from the service. Not only the corporator but also the municipal chairperson can be removed for not doing duties.

During an interaction with media, TRS working president K T Rama Rao said one who wants to contest election should think and contest. There should be fear among the officials and public representatives.

The Chief Minister is very serious and had suggested the officials to take action against public representatives even if they are from TRS, he said.

The party leaders are discussing whether it would be feasible to contest election by spending money and having uncertainty over the post with disqualification sword hanging over their heads.

They feel that the elections have become a costly affair and after getting elected there is fear of not completing the full term.

However, a TRS MLA from Medak said the new Act will not harm anyone. The MLA said the Collectors already had powers and this is not new.

The Chief Minister wanted the elected representatives to be responsible hence the responsibilities have been fixed, he said.