The ‘no-confidence’ motion against Deputy Mayor is unlikely to head towards its logical end as conceived and moved by a section of dissatisfied ward councilors of Ranchi Municipal Corporation. Absence of procedures to set the motion in process has come to the rescue of the man who has headed the municipal board for about a year.
The motion which was scheduled for August 23 has been deferred indefinitely as the district administration is consulting State government over the matter and is seeking clarification to proceed on the motion of no-confidence. The meeting to remove Deputy Mayor Sanjiv Vijayvargiya was postponed once as rules calls for issuing notice of any meeting 72-hours before the date of meeting. First meeting was scheduled on August 19.
“There are no rules framed for how to carry no-confidence motion. So we have sought suggestions from government and until that comes it is not possible (to execute the no-confidence motion). As of now the scheduled meeting on August 21 has been deferred,” said Ranchi DC Vinay Kumar Choubey.
Nonetheless, the municipal body which until now was known for friction between administration and board is now heading towards another showdown this time it is the board member against each other. For the first time in the history of civic body a coup is in the offing against second in command in the RMC board.
A section of ward councilors are planning to move ‘no-confidence motion against the Deputy Mayor accusing him of being blind to the greater good of the city and feeble against vested interests. Also, the disgruntled councilors are agitated over the supposed influence of people thought close to the man who has been the defacto head of elected representatives in RMC board.
“From last couple of days things weren’t being done in usual manner. The board is divided and it is not good for RMC” said Roshni Khalkho. The Deputy Mayor has been accused of working under the influence people said to be close to the man who managed affairs at the municipal body for almost one-year. However, Vijayvargiya rubbished the accusations leveled against him and rather termed it a brainchild of few bad apples in the board. The man in the firing line claims to have support of majority of ward councilors.
“This is purely politically motivated step by some people. There are some people who are behind this because they have failed to take advantage for themselves. I have support of 34 ward councilors who have submitted their support for me in writing to the Mayor,” asserted Vijyavargiay.