New Delhi: Gurugram’s newly elected mayor Raj Rani Malhotra has appointed her husband, Tilak Raj Malhotra, a former BJP district president, as an official adviser to the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG).
The Congress has said it undermines the spirit of women’s empowerment and echoes troubling trends of proxy representation seen in rural local governance.
This comes even as the Punjab and Haryana High Court is scrutinising allegations that Raj Rani Malhotra fought the mayoral elections on a fraudulent caste certificate.
The appointment was formalised through a letter issued by MCG Commissioner Ashok Garg. The letter, dated 21 April 2025, accessed by ThePrint, says, “Shri Tilak Raj Malhotra shall function in an advisory capacity and shall assist the Honourable Mayor in matters as may be assigned to him by the Honourable Mayor from time to time.”
It further says that the role is honorary, with no financial benefits or remuneration from the corporation.
On Thursday, speaking to ThePrint, Tilak Raj Malhotra, who previously served as the BJP district president two decades ago and contested a legislative election, defended the appointment, saying, “This is a voluntary role. The Mayor is serious about Gurugram’s development, aiming to emulate Indore’s cleanliness model. My role as adviser will support her vision without impacting her independent duties.”
He emphasised the mayor’s ongoing efforts in improving cleanliness and sewerage systems in the city.
Malhotra dismissed the criticism, telling ThePrint, “Those questioning the appointment should focus on the mayor’s achievements. My role is purely advisory and will not interfere with her responsibilities.”
The Congress has accused the BJP of hypocrisy.
Congress leader Pearl Choudhary, in a post on X, called the move a “mockery of the Constitution’s spirit and the purpose of women’s reservation”.
Talking to ThePrint, she argued that appointing the mayor’s husband as her adviser contradicts the BJP’s public stance against “parivarvad” (family-based politics), often criticised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when targeting the Congress.
“Gurugram is India’s Millennium City, and its mayor is the first citizen. What message does this send about women’s empowerment when the Mayor’s husband is officially her adviser?” Choudhary said.
She further questioned the legal basis of the appointment, noting that no rules provide for husbands or blood relatives to hold such positions.
“If husbands can run the show, what’s the point of women’s reservation? By this logic, husbands of women councillors could also become advisers,” she added.
Choudhary said Commissioner Garg’s approval of the appointment makes a mockery of the Municipal Act. Despite attempts to seek clarification, Garg remained unavailable for comment.
Guidelines under the panchayati raj system explicitly restrict non-elected individuals from participating in official proceedings.
In a bid to address the culture of ‘mukhiya pati,’ ‘pradhan pati,’ and ‘sarpanch pati’ in local governance, last month, the Centre launched ‘Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan’ to sharpen leadership acumen and decision-making capabilities for women and and reinforce their role in grassroots governance.
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)
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