Sri Vijaya Puram, October 15: Mr. G. Bhasker, Chairman, Campaign Committee, Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee (ANTCC), has written to the Lt. Governor, A&N Islands, requesting reforms in the election of the Chairperson of the Municipal Council and the Zilla Parishad.
In his letter dated October 12, 2026, Mr. Bhasker drew attention to the serious concerns arising from the existing system of electing the Chairperson of the Municipal Council and the Chairperson of the Zilla Parishad in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands on a yearly basis.
He stated that the Councillors of the Municipal Council and Zilla Parishad Members are elected by the general public for a period of five years. However, the tenure of the Chairperson of the Municipal Council and the Chairperson of the Zilla Parishad is limited to one year under the existing arrangement, necessitating repeated elections every year.
The short tenure of these important positions has given rise to allegations and concerns regarding horse-trading, political instability and cross-voting to secure the Chairperson’s post. Repeated contests for these positions also undermine the democratic mandate of the people, he said.
Furthermore, changes in leadership adversely affect development works. A Chairperson who assumes office for just one year cannot formulate policies and implement development projects, and there is also non-continuity in development works initiated by a Chairperson, he added.
Mr. Bhasker pointed out that several States/UTs have a five-year tenure for their Mayors/Chairpersons in Municipal Corporations and Chairpersons in Zilla Parishads. For example, the States of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal (Kolkata) and Andhra Pradesh and the Union Territories of Delhi, Puducherry, Ladakh, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli provide a five-year tenure. He also mentioned that many States have direct elections for Chairperson, Municipal Council and Zilla Parishad, and the public votes directly for these posts.
Noting that the Lt. Governor has risen through grassroots politics, has served in a Municipal Corporation and is well aware of the practical functioning of urban local bodies and the importance of stable leadership for effective governance, Mr. Bhasker appealed to him to examine the issue and facilitate suitable reforms that would ensure stable leadership, stop political horse-trading and enable elected representatives to concentrate on development rather than recurring contests for these positions.
He expressed his firm belief that a stable five-year tenure for these leadership positions would ensure continuity in development activities.
