Thaindian News

New Delhi, April 29 (IANS) The term of a mayor should be more than a year and the tenure should be uniform across the country, outgoing Delhi Mayor Kanwar Sain said Thursday.
As per the rules of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), a new mayor is selected by the city’s councillors each year. Kanwar Sain has completed his one-year tenure and the election for the new mayor and deputy mayor is scheduled Friday.

Speaking to reporters, he said: “I have no grievances that I was not given one more chance as the mayor, but I feel that a fixed tenure for mayors across the country is necessary. From one year, it should be extended at least up to three years.”

“In Uttar Pradesh, mayors serve for five years and in Gujarat, it is three years… one year is too short for a mayor’s post as one cannot complete his work completely. The person always leaves work pending for others,” he said.

Kanwar Sain also felt that a mayor should be given more powers, like writing annual confidential report of the municipal commissioner.

He called for a council of mayors to be formed by the government, with mayors from across the country as members.

Speaking about his tenure, Kanwar Sain said he was happy that the new civic centre, which was long pending, was inaugurated when he was the city’s mayor. “It is a remarkable achievement.”

He said projects relating to the Commonwealth Games were nearing completion. The parks at Kushak and Sunheri nallahs would be completed within a month and the upgradation of street lights will be done by July.

He said if he was given more time, he would have ensured the completion of the Games in a good manner.

Kanwar Sain, the councillor from Vishwas Nagar, was the first doctor to serve as Delhi mayor.