Direct Election for Mayor and Municipality President : Sai Cabinet Decides Public Will Choose Heads in Nagar Panchayats Too

Raipur

A major decision was made during the Vishnudeo Sai Cabinet meeting in Chhattisgarh. Now, the election for mayors and municipal council presidents in urban local bodies will be held directly. This means that, alongside the councilors, the public will also vote for the mayor and president. This is the second cabinet meeting in six days on Monday.

In 2018, when the Congress government came to power in the state, the rule was changed. The right to elect the mayor was given to the councilors. However, before Bhupesh’s tenure, the public used to elect both the councilors and the mayor.

In 1999, during the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh under Digvijay Singh, the right to elect the mayor was taken away from the councilors and handed to the public. From then until 2018, this right remained with the people of Chhattisgarh. After the Congress government came to power in 2018, amendments were made, and the right was given back to the councilors.

Chhattisgarh requires 6,046 tons of gram (chana) every month and 72,052 tons annually to distribute to its residents. The procurement of gram is managed by the State Civil Supplies Corporation. In this context, the Cabinet decided that gram will be procured through the e-auction platform facilitated by the Civil Supplies Corporation.

A decision was also made to grant industry status to tourism. The Chhattisgarh Tourism Policy 2020 includes provisions for subsidies, discounts, and incentives for investments in tourism projects, similar to general industries.

Granting industry status to tourism will help promote adventure, water tourism, medical and wellness tourism, agro-tourism, tourism units, and private investments in land banks in the state. This will encourage stakeholders and foster the development of facilities suitable for national and international tourists.