Municipal Elections in Indian Cities Don't Matter, says Analyst Swapnil Karkare
Indian cities suffer poor outcomes because governance lacks devolved power and accountability, unlike successful models like Shanghai.
Public interest in city-level politics has grown in recent months, driven by high-profile municipal campaigns abroad and the resumption of long-delayed local body elections in parts of India, including Maharashtra. As voting takes place in major cities such as Mumbai and Pune, the renewed attention has raised a fundamental question: do municipal elections in Indian cities meaningfully shape urban outcomes?
According to analyst Swapnil Karkare, the uncomfortable answer is largely no—not because of the individuals who win or lose elections, but because of the way Indian cities are structurally governed. He argues that the institutional framework of urban governance in India is deeply flawed, limiting the actual power and accountability of elected municipal bodies and making meaningful change difficult regardless of electoral outcomes.
Karkare contends that Indian cities remain “odd ones out” when compared to global urban centers. While elections generate public debate and political competition, key decisions related to finance, planning, and administration are often controlled by state governments or unelected authorities. As a result, city governments frequently lack autonomy over budgets, staffing, and long-term development priorities.
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The article suggests that discussions around urban transformation in India often focus on visible outcomes such as skyscrapers, infrastructure projects, and ambitious redevelopment plans. However, Karkare argues that such outcomes cannot be sustained without addressing who holds real decision-making power at the city level and how incentives are structured for urban leaders.
Drawing comparisons with cities such as New York, Seoul, Shanghai, and Mexico City, the analysis highlights how successful global cities tend to devolve authority, resources, and accountability directly to municipal governments. In these cases, city leaders have clearer control over finances and policy implementation, making them directly answerable to residents.
The broader implication, according to the article, is that without deeper reforms to urban governance—beyond holding elections—Indian cities are unlikely to achieve consistent, long-term improvements. Municipal polls may generate political interest, but structural constraints continue to limit their real impact on how cities are run.
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