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Bhubaneswar: Seeking to usher in a healthy political environment in apex local bodies like Zilla Parishad, the state cabinet Thursday approved proposals to amend legal provisions to bring in an anti-defection provision that can bar elected members from switching from one party to another.
The meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has approved a proposal in this regard by amending Section 33 of the Orissa Zilla Parishad Act, 1991, Chief Secretary GC Pati said. A decision was also taken to ensure reservation for women in district planning committees. The Cabinet altogether approved 23 proposals.
“In order to provide a healthy political environment and better governance of Zilla Parishads, it is necessary to introduce anti-defection provision,” said Pati in his address to mediapersons after the Cabinet meeting. “The new provision provides for disqualification of the elected members who will switch over from one political party to another,” he added.
Under the existing three-tier panchayati raj system, election to the Zilla Parishad is held on party lines. The political parties field their candidates for the election to the Parishad with their respective party symbols.
There was no provision on the consequence of defection to other parties after the election. Taking note of this, the state Cabinet decided that its approval of the proposal in the incorporation of some provisions relating to defection would be placed in the Assembly in its next session for approval.
Panchayati raj secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh said there will be insertion of sub-section of 33 (b), 33 (c), 33 (d) and 33 (4) in Section 33 of the Anti-defection Act.
“Under the new provision of the Act, if an elected candidate of a political party voluntarily resigns from the party, his/her membership in the Parishad would be cancelled. Besides, if an elected member of the political party works against the wishes of his/her party supremo by casting votes in the election of the president, vice-president or standing committee, he/she will cease to qualify as the member,” Singh said.
The same provision would also be applicable to an elected Independent member if he/she joins a political party after the election, Singh said adding that the state government would leave the decision of disqualification of Zilla Parishad members to the State Election Commission (SEC).
Meanwhile, the government has also approved an amendment to the Orissa District Planning Committee Act, 1998, that would ensure 50 per cent reservation for women among elected members in the district planning committees (DPCs).
As many as 80 per cent of the DPC members are elected from among ZP members and councillors/corporators of municipalities, notified area committees and municipal corporations, said Pati, adding that the remaining 20 per cent are nominated by the government.
The amendment also provides for a minister or an MLA from the district to be nominated as chairman of DPC to facilitate timely conduct of meetings. It also provides for nomination of a vice-chairperson from among the elected members of the DPC.