Patna: At least 261 elected representatives from various municipal corporations, councils and Nagar Panchayats across Bihar gathered at Patna’s Vidyapati Bhawan on Wednesday to protest the Bihar Municipal (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The Bill, which seeks to diminish the powers of mayors and councillors, has sparked backlash in the state.
Under the banner of ‘Bihar Mukhya Parshad Mahasangh’, the gathering was led by Ramakant Kumar Tunna, former chairman of the Arwal Municipal Council.Following detailed discussions, a 35-member steering committee, ‘Bihar Nagar Nikaye Mahasangh,’ was formed to spearhead the agitation against the Bill and, if necessary, pursue legal action should the state govt not revoke the new provisions.
Patna mayor Sita Sahu was unanimously elected as the committee’s president, with Mohan Srivastava from Gaya Municipal Corporation as the chief convenor and Ramakant Kumar Tunna as the general secretary. Sahu said the new Bill, passed by the Bihar legislative assembly on July 23, reduces the municipalities’ rights. She highlighted the addition of sub-section 5 to section 52, which mandates that no proposals can be passed or considered if they contravene state govt rules and directives. The amendment to section 60, which transfers the right to prepare the agenda from the mayor to the municipal commissioner, was also criticized.
Meanwhile, UDHD minister Nitin Nabin assured that the autonomy of municipal bodies would be preserved. He said municipal bodies would continue to operate without undue interference and that both public representatives and officers would perform their roles appropriately. Nabin said the govt would consider the issues raised by the delegation issues and make decisions accordingly.

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