Himachal Pradesh Cabinet has decided to extend the tenure of Mayor and Deputy Mayors of Municipal Corporations to five years from the existing term of two and half years.
The decision was taken in a Cabinet Meeting held at Shimla on Saturday presided over by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
Briefing media persons after the meeting, Cabinet Minister Harsh Vardhan Chuahan said, “The decision to extend the term of Mayors and Deputy Mayors of Municipal Corporations as the two and a half year tenure of the Mayor and Deputy Mayors led to horse trading.”
He said, “The Cabinet also discussed the situation after the last natural disaster in the state and it was discussed holding Panchayat election on time will be quite difficult since road connectivity has not been restored in many Panchayats.”
The Cabinet has also decided to extend special relief package to disaster affected people to the entire state and people whose houses have been destroyed will receive the first statement of Rs 4 lakh each and total Rs 7 lakh will be given.”
The Cabinet also decided to grant 15 days paternity leave to male contract employees, give 40 percent subsidy to convert 1000 diesel / petrol taxis to electric vehicles under Rajiv Gandhi Self Employment Scheme.
The Cabinet has approved to establish a Tourism Investment Promotion Council in Himachal Pradesh, with the CM as its Chairman to expedite tourism projects in the state.
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has strongly condemned the Cabinet decision to extend the term of Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Municipal Corporations.
In a press statement he said, “After running away from the Panchayat elections the state government by extending the term of Mayor and Deputy Mayor, has made another attempt to avoid the elections as their own party councilors are annoyed with the Congress government fearing desertion during the election.”
