Performance of corporators with dual posts dipped: NGO

The role of corporators, who are holding two ‘offices’, has come under scanner as their performance was found to have dipped considerably while performing both their duties.

In the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), there are six corporators, who were elected either as MP or MLAs. Shiv Sena’s Rahul Shewale was elected as MP from South-Central Mumbai in the Lok Sabha elections held in 2014. In the Vidhan Sabha elections held few months later, Sunil Prabhu and Ashok Patil (Sena) and Ameet Satam, Manisha Chaudhari and Tamil Selvan (BJP) were elected as MLAs. However, after getting elected, they did not quit the corporator’s post and continued to work in the civic body.

Praja Foundation’s report card has shown that all six corporators’ performance has gone down in the last couple of years. Mr Satam, who was ranked 25 with a score of 70.51 out of 100, has slipped to 205th position with a score of 44.14.

Sena MP Shewale has in fact hit rock bottom in the report card. He is the worst performing corporator with a score of just 24.46.

“The data shows that elected representatives cannot concentrate on their dual roles as corporators and MP or MLAs. Their performance has gone down raising the possibility of civic works getting affected in their wards. Why should an individual occupy two such ‘constitutional’ posts ” asked Milind Mhaske, project director of Praja.

According to Praja officials, in the BMC Act, there was a provision that corporator would not be allowed to hold two ‘offices.’ However the Act was changed in 2001 allowing corporators to retain their post even after getting elected as MLA or MP.

“In Delhi, the law allows corporator to hold only one post at a time. The BMC Act should also be changed accordingly,” said Nitai Mehta from Praja.

However, speaking to this paper, Mr Satam rubbished Praja’s report as ‘fake.’ “I do not believe in their report. I had asked them long ago on what basis they are carrying out the survey. Till date, they have not been able to give a reply,” he said.

“I am accountable only to the people in my constituency. Had my performance been so bad, they would not have elected me as an MLA in the Vidhan Sabha election,” said Mr Satam.