MP Govt approves direct Mayoral polls, vehicle tax rebates linked to Scrapping Policy

The Madhya Pradesh BJP Government on Tuesday approved the introduction of the Madhya Pradesh Municipality (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 to ensure that elections for the post of President in Municipal Councils and Nagar Parishads are conducted through direct voting by the electorate in the upcoming general elections.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav at the State Secretariat in Bhopal.

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In Madhya Pradesh, the post of President in urban local bodies was filled through direct elections from 1999 to 2014. However, elections could not be held in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the 2022 urban local body elections, the post was filled through the indirect system, where elected corporators voted. From the 2027 elections onwards, the President will once again be chosen directly by the people.

The Cabinet also decided to promote vehicle scrapping under the Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF). It approved a 50 per cent rebate in motor vehicle tax on new transport and non-transport vehicles registered against a Certificate of Deposit issued for scrapping BS-I and earlier emission standard vehicles, as well as medium and heavy goods/passenger vehicles manufactured under BS-II norms, subject to conditions.

The rebate will be granted only if the new vehicle is purchased in the name of the person holding the Certificate of Deposit. The certificate, valid for three years from the date of issue, will serve as the sole document to claim incentives and benefits.

Officials said the Certificate of Deposit will be electronically tradable, with transfers recorded on a trading platform as per Form 2D. Once used, the certificate will be marked as “cancelled” in the vehicle database by the concerned Regional Transport Office or dealer.

The rebate will apply only if the new vehicle is registered in Madhya Pradesh against a certificate issued by an RVSF located within the state. Certificates issued by facilities outside Madhya Pradesh will not be eligible.

The rebate will also apply only if the new vehicle belongs to the same category as the scrapped one. For vehicles with lifetime tax already deposited, a one-time 50 per cent rebate will be granted. For vehicles taxed monthly, quarterly, or annually, the rebate will be available for up to eight years.

Officials clarified that concessions under the Transport Department’s notification dated 8 September 2022 will not apply to vehicles availing of this rebate.