MCG Deputy Mayor Elections Face Judicial Scrutiny After Year-Long Delay
Nearly a full year has passed since the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) House was elected on March 12, 2025, yet the crucial elections for the positions of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor remain unresolved. This protracted delay has now escalated to the judicial arena, with the Punjab and Haryana High Court scheduled to hear the matter on March 5, 2026.
Court Adjournment and State's Response
A bench comprising Justices Harsimran Singh Sethi and Vikas Suri adjourned a petition filed by city resident Rohit Madan on Friday. The adjournment came after the Haryana government requested additional time to inform the court about when these two pivotal municipal posts would finally be filled.
The court recorded the state's request, stating: "Learned State counsel seeks a short adjournment to apprise this Court as to within how much time, the elections of the Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor in the Municipal Corporation, Gurugram, will be held and the said posts will be filled-up. Adjourned to 05.03.2026."
Legal Mandate and Previous Attempts
This case has brought the delay under intense judicial scrutiny because, despite the House being operational since last March, MCG has failed to elect the two office-bearers who are legally required to be chosen from among the elected councillors. This requirement is explicitly outlined in Section 36(2) of the Haryana Municipal Corporation Act, 1994, which mandates that the "Municipal Corporation shall elect from among its elected members, in the manner prescribed, 2 of its elected members to be the senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor…."
MCG had previously attempted to conduct these elections on August 11, coinciding with the day councillors in Gurugram and Manesar elected members to their Finance and Contracts Committee (F&CC). However, the polls for senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor were indefinitely deferred after councillors failed to reach a consensus on suitable candidates, highlighting internal disagreements within the municipal body.
Impact on Municipal Committees and Political Landscape
The absence of the two deputies has also raised significant questions regarding the composition of the F&CC. According to the Act's provisions, this committee is required to include both the senior deputy mayor and the deputy mayor, meaning their non-election potentially affects the committee's legitimacy and functionality.
In the current MCG House, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holds a clear majority, having secured 24 out of 36 seats in the March 2025 elections—marking its first majority in the corporation. Ten independents were elected, while the Congress and Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) each won one seat. This political configuration adds complexity to the election process, as consensus-building among diverse political interests remains a challenge.
The ongoing delay not only undermines municipal governance but also reflects broader issues in local administrative efficiency. As the High Court prepares to revisit the case next year, stakeholders await clarity on when these critical leadership positions will be filled to ensure smoother municipal operations in Gurugram.
