The entire opposition is against proposed Uttar Pradesh Nagar Nigam (Amendment) bill 2005 that empowers the state government to remove the lax and corrupt mayors.

Terming the proposed bill as the ‘black bill’, the opposition parties have announced that they would fight the issue with government inside UP legislature and on the streets as well.

It would be worth mentioning here that state cabinet approved the draft UP Nagar Nigam (amendment) bill 2005 providing for the merger of UP Nagar Nigam Act 1959 and UP Nagar Palika Act 1916.

The bill provides removal of mayor on charges of corruption and laxity in performing their duties on the pattern of chairmen of urban local bodies, the Nagar Palika and the Nagar Palika Parishad.

While the BJP leaders feel that the proposed bill would mean end of democracy in the urban local bodies.

On the other hand minister for parliamentary affairs Azam Khan said that the proposed bill would strengthen the democracy and check corruption in urban local bodies.

Lucknow mayor Dr Dinesh Sjharma said that the proposed bill was totally undemocratic act and it would be opposed at all levels. He has questioned the timing of the bill curtailing the time period when house of nagar palika was in progress

BJP has also announced agitation programme to mount pressure on the government to withdraw the bill.

Former mayor Dr Dauji Gupta said that he would join the forces fighting against the government to safeguards the interests of mayor who had been elected directly by the public.

Dr Gupta who had been the mayor of Lucknow thrice informed that mayor’s power had been snatched earlier. He further said that previously the mayor used to write CR of nagar ayukt who used to take order from mayor at that time. But when the power of writing CR was withdrawn the officers used to take orders direct from government and mayors had no powers.

Dr Dauji Gupta informed that attempts had also been made to take away powers from mayors during the Mayawati regime, but at that time Samajwadi Party national president Mulayam Singh Yadav had launched agitation saying that it was encroachment on the rights of mayors. He asked how could any political behave on same bill differently.

Congress MLA and former mayor of Allahabad Dr Rita Bahuguna Joshi also termed the bill as undemocratic and gave a call to all former ad present mayors to march to Raj Bhawan to apprise the Governor about the serious implication of the bill.

Political analyst Surendra Rajput opined that it was very calculated move of Samajwadi party to take on BJP in urban area and consolidate the position of party.

There is realization in Samajwadi Party that in 2017 assembly polls BJP would be main rival having nine mayors and control over nine out of 12 corporations in the state.

In order to destabilize BJP in urban areas, Samajwadi Party would require removal of mayors and seizing control of corporations to consolidate its position. (IPA Service)