“Grant 5-year term to Chandigarh Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor & Deputy Mayor”- Manish Tewari introduces Bill in Lok Sabha
Bahadurjeet Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ New Delhi/Chandigarh, December 5, 2025
Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari on Friday introduced a significant Private Member’s Bill in the Lok Sabha proposing to extend the tenure of the Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation from the current one year to five years.
The Bill seeks amendments to the Punjab Municipal Corporation Law (Extension to Chandigarh) Act and related provisions to bring the tenure of the three top municipal posts at par with the five-year term of the Municipal Corporation itself.
Objective of the Bill — ensuring “Continuity of Governance”
The primary aim of the Bill is to provide administrative stability, strengthen urban governance, and ensure long-term planning for Chandigarh.
Under the existing system:
The Mayor and both Deputy Mayors serve only a 12-month term,
Leadership changes every year,
Major development projects face discontinuity,
Vision and administrative direction shift frequently,
Political instability and annual contestation hamper governance.
The proposed 5-year tenure aligns Chandigarh with governance models of several major Indian municipal corporations and international urban local bodies.
“Chandigarh needs stable leadership” — Manish Tewari
While introducing the Bill, Tewari argued that Chandigarh is a modern, fast-growing urban centre where key projects — particularly in infrastructure, waste management, choe rejuvenation, mobility, housing reforms, and environmental restoration — require multi-year continuity.
He noted:
“A one-year mayoral term is far too short for a city of Chandigarh’s scale.”
“Annual leadership change disrupts execution and accountability.”
“A 5-year term will provide the stability needed to implement long-term development strategies.”
Key Provisions in the Bill
- Five-year tenure for Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor-All three positions would hold office for the full five-year duration of the Municipal Corporation’s term.
- Amendments to related and incidental provisions
The Bill seeks alignment of:
Election procedures,
Rules for vacancy, removal and no-confidence motions,
Administrative powers attached to the posts,
Continuity of ongoing projects and policy frameworks with the proposed five-year structure.
- Ending yearly political churn
The current system of electing a new Mayor every year often leads to:
Political instability,
Party-wise cross voting disputes,
Administrative delays,
Increased scope for backroom bargaining.
A 5-year term aims to end such annual turbulence.
Major political and administrative impact
If enacted, the Bill would trigger a structural transformation in Chandigarh’s municipal governance.
It would:
Eliminate yearly mayoral elections and associated political friction,
Strengthen long-term urban planning,
Bring continuity to major civic initiatives like choe rejuvenation, mobility plans, Smart City projects, housing reforms and sewerage upgrades,
Enhance accountability by allowing one leadership team to see projects through from conception to completion.
Urban governance experts see this as potentially one of the most significant reforms in the history of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.
Next steps and challenges
As a Private Member’s Bill, it will require:
Government backing,
Support across party lines in Parliament,
Possible examination by a Parliamentary Standing Committee.
Despite the legislative hurdles, the proposal has already generated wide discussion in Chandigarh’s political and civic landscape and is being viewed as a consequential reform proposal.
