Who acts as the political head of a Municipal Corporation?

The correct option is Mayor.

Explanation

Urban Local Bodies in India are classified into different types based on the size of the city. The Municipal Corporation is the urban local government established for large urban areas (big cities). The governance structure of a Corporation consists of an elected council (deliberative wing) and an administrative machinery (executive wing).

Analysis of Options:

• Mayor is Correct: The Mayor acts as the political head of the Municipal Corporation. The Mayor presides over the meetings of the Council and serves as the First Citizen of the city. While the Mayor is the titular and ceremonial head in many states, the executive authority lies with the Commissioner.
• Municipal Chairperson is Incorrect: The Municipal Chairperson (or President) is the political head of a Municipal Council (Nagar Palika), which is established for smaller urban areas, not for large corporations.
• Sarpanch is Incorrect: The Sarpanch is the elected head of a Gram Panchayat, which operates at the village level under the Panchayati Raj system (Rural Local Government).
• District Collector is Incorrect: The District Collector is the administrative head of the district revenue administration. The administrative head of a Municipal Corporation is the Municipal Commissioner, typically an IAS officer appointed by the State Government, who is responsible for the implementation of decisions taken by the Council.

Key Takeaway:
In a Municipal Corporation, the Mayor is the political head (deliberative function), while the Municipal Commissioner is the chief executive authority (administrative function).