The Pioneer 15.09.2010
Congress selects Sagheer as leader of Oppositon in BMCSR | Bhopal
Finally, ending an eight-month-old stalemate, the Congress on Tuesday named three-time Corporator Mohammad Sagheer as the leader of Opposition in the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) general council.
The decision brings to an end an eight-month deadlock, which was attributed to faction feuds within the Congress by insiders.
However, after receiving the formal letter from the party State unit, Sagheer, who currently represents ward 42, affirmed that he would discharge responsibilities without prejudice and thanked the party for the faith reposed in him.
Meanwhile, the other front-runner for the post Mahira Salamuddin, who represents ward 5, informed that the opinion of a majority of Corporators was not sought before taking the decision.
The role of the leader of Opposition at the BMC assumes importance due to the complex structure of the 70 member General Council, which consists of 42 Congress Corporators, but is headed by a the BJP Mayor who is assisted by 28 party representatives.
Issues like hike in taxes, sanitation budgets and getting nod for development work including that of the central funded schemes like JNNURM is not possible for the Mayor and members of the Mayor-in-Council (MiC) without the consent of the Opposition.
Contentious decisions taken during the previously held general council meets like bringing a threefold increase in water cess, hiking it from `60 to `180 per month, are understood to have been impossible without taking influential Corporators of the Opposition camp into confidence.
