Uncertainty looms large over delimitation process of Delhi’s MCD wards

Gazette Notification awaited from Union Home Ministry

New Delhi, July 15 (Delhi Crown): The process of delimitation of MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) wards hasn’t started yet in the national capital, even as the much-needed Gazette Notification from the Union Home Ministry is still awaited.

The said Gazette Notification will pave the way for engaging the MCD employees in carrying out the delimitation process. Besides, it would also clear the air regarding the number of MCD wards the new unified body will have.

Though the number of wards in the new unified MCD has been restricted to 250, the exact number of new wards hasn’t been specified yet.

According to a source privy to the delimitation process, the Gazette Notification is expected in a day or two. “Once the gazette notification is out, the delimitation process shall start. It is expected that the delimitation process would start sometime in the coming week,” he told www.thedelhicrown.com

In an abrupt move, the Central government had four months ago decided to postpone the local body elections in Delhi, citing unification of three MCDs as one of the reasons.

The decision had surprised many, as the then Delhi Election Commissioner S.K. Srivastava had to cancel his scheduled press conference at the 11th hour after a “communication” from the Central Government.

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had criticised the move, claiming that the MCD Polls were postponed since the Delhi unit of the BJP wished to run away from facing the elections after 15 years of its “corrupt rule”.

Only last week, the Central Government had set up a 3-member panel to carry out the delimitation process.

Comprising of a Chairman and two members, the panel was set up as per an Order dated July 8, signed by Joint Secretary (U.T.) Ashutosh Agnihotri. Headed by Delhi Election Commissioner Vijay Dev, the panel also includes Joint Secretary at Govt. of India’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Pankaj Kumar Singh, and Additional Commissioner at Delhi Municipal Corporation Randhir Sahay.

The panel has been tasked to submit its report within four months.

According to sources, the decision to engage the MCD employees in carrying out the delimitation process was taken after the Delimitation Committee’s meeting on Tuesday.

According to experts, the process of carrying out final delimitation of wards/constituencies (i.e. after accepting and incorporating suggestions from public/elected representatives), normally takes 6 months to one year.