The Constitution of India (via the 74th Amendment) mandates elections to urban local governments at regular five-year intervals, similar to elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Yet from Mumbai to Gurugram, from Bengaluru to Delhi, municipal elections face persistent delays that undermine local democracy and governance and adversely affect the ease of living and doing business in our cities.
The Delays in Urban Local Government Elections in India: Analysis and Reform Pathways report examines the legal and institutional factors that contribute to delays in timely municipal elections. It maps the full lifecycle of urban local government elections and identifies where delays typically occur.
Undefined timelines for key electoral procedures and disempowered State Election Commissions emerged as significant causes. The report proposes focused reform pathways, including legal timelines, institutional clarity and autonomy for SECs, common electoral rolls, and improved transparency and accountability measures.
The analysis draws from extensive sources: reviews of 82 municipal laws across states and union territories, insights from 12 current and former SECs, 13 constitutional court judgements, performance audits by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, and a national roundtable with MPs, SECs, mayors, experts, and civil society leaders.
