The election of Deputy Mayor (DyM) could snowball into a major controversy if the Election Commission goes ahead with the provision of the election, to be elected from the sitting ward councillors.
The Jharkhand Municipal Act, 2011 stipulates “The elected councillors shall in a meeting of the council elect in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed by the State Government one from amongst themselves to be the Deputy Mayor or the Vice-Chairperson, who shall assume office forthwith after taking the oath of secrecy.”
Although the Act does not prohibit the authorities to go ahead with elections under the circumstances where the results of few wards have been withheld by the Commission, sitting councillors have threatened to move to court if the commission goes ahead with the election for the post of Deputy Mayor.
“I would expect the Commission to show maturity and wait till the results are declared else we will move to court against the election,” said sitting councillor of ward-52 Kaushal Kishore Mahali.
Interestingly, sources in the election commission have confided that the issue would be resolved before the council sits for selecting DyM among themselves.
On being asked about the participation of the councillors of remaining wards, the source said, “This is a long process. The results will be declared before we proceed with the election.”
Meanwhile information coming out also hinted that the State Election Commission might declare results of the all the remaining wards, save one, on Monday.
The State Election Commissioner had suggested on April 11 that results could be declared if the gap between the front runner and the second contestant is significantly large.