In Focus by The Hindu In Focus-Parley | Do we need to change how cities are governed in India?
Dec 4, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Thoniparambil Raghunandan, a former IAS officer and expert in decentralization, teams up with Anant Maringanti, director of an urban studies center, to explore the pressing need for governance reform in Indian cities. They highlight the visibility gap of Indian mayors compared to their US counterparts and delve into historical municipal strengths. The guests discuss the failures of the 74th Amendment, the impact of citizen apathy, and the political motives behind municipal reorganizations. They propose that direct mayoral elections could enhance accountability and responsiveness in urban governance.
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City Power Depends On Global Positioning
- Zohran Mamdani's visibility reflects New York's global structural importance, not just his personal power.
- Indian cities occupy different historical positions, so direct comparison with New York is misleading.
Chief Ministers Dominate Urban Power
- In India the chief minister often controls city affairs, making mayors less powerful and visible.
- Political culture channels ambition from mayoral posts into state assemblies, weakening local leadership.
74th Amendment Didn't Automate Strong Cities
- Despite long municipal histories, constitutionalizing local bodies via the 74th amendment weakened them in practice.
- Supply-driven reform without citizen demand left municipalities marginalized instead of empowered.
