Multi-Member Ward System
- September 24, 2021
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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Multi-Member Ward System
Subject – Polity
Context – The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra took a decision to reintroduce the multi-member ward system for all municipal councils and corporations barring the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), instead of the existing single-member ward system
Concept –
- There will be a three-member ward system in municipal corporations and a two-member ward system in municipal councils.
- In other words, municipal seats will be demarcated together to create a three- and two-member ward system in corporations and councils respectively.
- There will be no change in the number of wards or corporators; the wards will be bunched together only for the purpose of the election.
- Those contesting from the same party or alliance across the designated multi-member ward will campaign across the two or three wards, although they will file their nomination from individual wards.
- If elected, each will represent the individual ward only.
- Voters, however, will be able to select candidates in their own ward as well as in the other wards clubbed together in the multi-member ward.
- Although candidates from the same party/alliance in a multi-member ward will be called a “panel”, a voter does not really select a panel, but individual candidates, who can be from the same party or from different parties.
- A voter is also entitled to select just one candidate. But for this, the voter has to make a written submission to the presiding officer of the booth.
- This is to ensure documentary proof in case a party or candidate goes to court questioning how a candidate got fewer votes than others.
When has the system been tried before?
- A three-member ward system in municipal corporations was introduced in 2001 by then Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. It was scrapped in 2006.
- In 2011, Chief Minister PrithvirajChavan introduced a two-member ward system for municipal corporations and a four-member system for councils.
- In 2016, Chief Minister M DevendraFadnavis changed it to a four-member system for corporations and a three-member system for councils.
- In December 2019, the MVA government decided to scrap it and revert to the single-member ward system.
What is the rationale?
- The reason for the non-partisan support to this scheme is that it appears to help a party or alliance maximise its seats.
- A party can offset weak candidates with strong ones in a multi-member ward.
- The hope is that the strongest of the candidates will carry the day for the others in the “panel”, even though this is not guaranteed.
- The state Urban Development Department notifies rules for the manner of allotment and rotation of reservation of seats of corporators in wards.
- Subsequently, the State Election Commission undertakes an exercise for the allotment for seats for the reserved category and rotating them.