Whether these elections
are held on a party basis or not, the more important thing is to empower local government institutions (LGIs) at all levels to deliver quality services
to the people
Allowing political parties to contest local govt polls formally
For the first time, local government elections are going to be fought on party symbols. It will begin with the municipal polls in December this year. Many experts feel that this decision of the government was inevitable. Back in early April this year Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said I think the local government law needs to be amended so that elections at all local government levels are held in a partisan manner and all political parties can give nominations in the elections.
This decision means the workers of political parties can work for their respective candidates. The fact of the matter is the local government elections for the last few decades have been fought in a non-partisan manner in name only. In real terms the elections were held on party basis. Even the media, when publishing results of these elections did so on a partisan basis. Obviously there was opportunity to contest the election as an individual which will be there even now. The local government elections have little impact on central power. These are not votes to change governments. However the parties can get an idea about their popularity from these.
The government is saying that this latest move will help empower the local government institutions (LGIs). It is true that local governments so far have not been regarded as a core or building block for national development plans even though local development and services delivery are critically dependent on efficient and effective local government. Decentralised development planning and building administrative capacity of LGIs are essential not only for delivering services to the grassroots but also for improving effectiveness of the central government and ability of local administrative units.
All the tiers of LGIs have been suffering from resource deficiency to provide quality services despite immense potential of enabling them to be financially solvent. Whether the partisan nature of elections will change this scenario is difficult to say at the moment.
The very purpose of the move will be defeated if the use of black money, muscle power and nomination business that are so prevalent in national elections are replicated at the local levels. It must also be ensured that the local government bodies do not become platforms of political parties. It is an open secret that certain MPs try to wield undue influence on police and administration at their constituencies. If the elected personnel of the LGIs follow their footsteps then there will be serious risk of the local government system collapsing. Whether these elections are held on a party basis or not, the more important thing is to empower local government institutions (LGIs) at all levels to deliver quality services to the people.
