This refers to T N Ninan’s column “Saving Mumbai” (February 18). The local self-government bodies, right from municipal corporations down to zila parishads and panchayat samitis have no policy-making powers of any great significance that can have an underlying political philosophy. They are essentially meant to provide good amenities to residents. Given this fact, it is worth considering if the elections to these bodies can be made apolitical; that is, let the representatives be elected as independents. The elected representative, thus, freed from the clutches of his party bosses, can be solely answerable to the problems and development of his area.
Kishor Kulkarni, Mumbai
Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201
E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number
