The Loksatta Party has urged the State government to amend the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act to encourage people to participate in local governance through ward committees.

Submitting draft rules to TK Anil Kumar, secretory, Urban Development department, on Tuesday, members of the party demanded that ward committees have a democratic structure and function. “The veto power given to the councilor should be repealed because it defeats the very purpose of having a ward committee,” a party member said. The members to the committee should be elected by people and during the Council elections, each candidate should announce the names of five prospective ward committee members before the polls. Based on the vote share, each candidate can appoint a proportionate number of members to the ward committee.

Besides, the ward committee should be given charge of budgeting and auditing all works undertaken in the ward, according to a press release issued by the party.