Vijayawada:CPM state committee opposed the proposed direct election of mayors and chairpersons in the forthcoming local body elections, arguing that the system would weaken grassroots democracy and undermine the role of elected representatives. In a statement issued here on Thursday, party state secretary V Srinivasa Rao said direct elections would diminish the importance of corporators, councillors, MPTCs and ZPTCs, who are directly connected with the people. He said concentrating power in the hands of mayors and chairpersons would go against the spirit of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments and weaken democratic decentralisation. He demanded that the existing system be continued. Meanwhile, Srinivasa Rao welcomed the state government’s decision to provide 34 per cent reservation for Backward Classes (BCs), but said the move could be effectively implemented only by removing the 50 per cent ceiling on reservations. He said the Mishra Commission had also highlighted the issue and demanded that Parliament amend the Constitution to facilitate implementation of the BC quota without legal hurdles.

He urged the TDP, Jana Sena and BJP, which are part of the NDA government at the Centre, to exert pressure on the Union government to bring about the required constitutional amendment. He said political parties should stop trading allegations and instead work together to secure the amendment. Srinivasa Rao warned that announcing reservations without ensuring their legal implementation would amount to misleading BCs.