By: Adv. Shashank S. Narvekar, Councillor, Mapusa Municipal Council
Local self-governing institutions such as Gram Panchayats, Zilla Panchayats, and Municipalities were created on the principle that governance works best when it is closest to the people. These bodies were meant to strengthen democracy at the grassroots level by encouraging local leadership, improving accountability, and addressing the specific needs of communities through decentralized decision-making.
However, this vision of strong local governance is increasingly being weakened by a troubling trend. In many cases, powerful political leaders deliberately support candidates who lack the necessary education, administrative understanding, or governance experience. This is often not due to a lack of capable individuals, but rather a calculated political strategy.
By promoting candidates who are inexperienced or unaware of their statutory responsibilities, higher-level politicians ensure that these local representatives remain dependent on them. Such representatives often become politically loyal to their sponsors instead of acting independently in the interest of the public. As a result, local bodies risk losing their autonomy and becoming extensions of larger political interests.
When individuals who lack administrative knowledge hold important positions in Zilla Panchayats and Municipalities, the consequences can be serious. These institutions are responsible for important matters such as infrastructure development, public health, sanitation, and urban planning. Without proper understanding and leadership, planning becomes weak, procedures are often mishandled, and public funds may not be used efficiently. This ultimately slows down development and affects the welfare of the community.
This system of patronage also weakens democratic accountability. Representatives who owe their position to powerful political figures may hesitate to question decisions or expose irregularities. Instead of representing the voice of the people, they may simply follow the instructions of those who supported their election. In such a situation, the very idea of self-governance is undermined.
The effects of this problem are directly felt by ordinary citizens. Poor leadership at the Panchayat level can lead to failures in providing basic services, while weak municipal governance can affect sanitation, water supply, and public health systems. When governance fails to deliver, people begin to lose trust in democratic institutions.
At its core, this issue reflects a strategy of power consolidation through political patronage. In institutions where authority and public resources are significant, strong and capable local leaders could emerge as independent political figures. To prevent this, some political actors prefer to promote weak or inexperienced candidates who will remain dependent on them.
Democracy must always remain inclusive, and leadership should not be judged only by formal education. However, there must be a genuine effort to build capable leadership at the grassroots level. Transparent candidate selection, training, and capacity building are essential to strengthen local governance.
The responsibility lies with the state, civil society, the media, and citizens themselves to demand integrity, competence, and accountability from those who seek public office. Local democracy can survive and succeed only when leaders are informed, independent, and committed to public service. Deliberately encouraging weak leadership is not just poor governance; it undermines the very purpose of democratic decentralization.
