CONGRESS TO HOLD WEEK-LONG CANDLE-LIGHT MARCH AND “THALI-PEET” DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE 13 MCD WARDS FROM NEXT WEEK: AJAY MAKEN.

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Shri Ajay Maken has written a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, asking him to hold elections to 13 vacant seats in the three Municipal Corporations of Delhi without any further delay, as in the absence of elected Councillors, these wards remain neglected, and the people are suffering.

Shri Ajay Maken has stated in his letter that “The Delhi State Election Commission vide letter dated 25-2-2015, accompanied by an action plan, has already urged your Government to immediately conduct bye-elections in the respective areas and as per the proposal, the elections were to be concluded in the month of April, 2015, itself. However, no action has been taken by the GNCTD (Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi).” The 13 vacant seats include 4 in the North Delhi MCD, seven in the South Delhi MCD and two in the East Delhi MCD.

In his letter, Shri Maken also drew attention to “Section 12 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957 which mandates that any such vacancy to the office of a Municipal Councillor shall be filled at the ‘earliest’. But the unnecessary delay in the said elections and the absence of area Councillors is only adding to the sufferings of the general public already burdened by the poor civic conditions due to the ego battles and crossfire between the Municipal bodies and the Delhi Government”.

Shri Maken concluded his letter saying that “with regards to the said provision and present circumstances, I strongly urge that the Government of Delhi must immediately make necessary arrangements to conduct the said bye-elections”.

Addressing a Press Conference at the DPCC office, Rajiv Bhawan, here today, Shri Ajay Maken said the Aam Aadmi Party was shying away from holding bye-elections to the 13 MCD seats fearing defeat, as the AAP Government has not been able to fulfill the tall promises made to the people before the Delhi Assembly elections, and they may not be able to repeat the Assembly election results. Shri Ajay Maken wanted to know why the Delhi Government was delaying the MCD bye-elections when the Election Commission has started the process. Shri Maken said the Congress party will hold week-long candle-light march and “Thali-Peet” demonstrations in all the 13 MCD wards, to protest against price rise, and seeking the immediate conduct of the bye-elections, .

Shri Maken said according to the replies given by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (Election Office) under the Right to Information Act to Shri Vedpal, to a question “what are the reasons for not holding bye-elections in these vacant wards/seats”, the reply given was “It pertains to the State Election Commission, Government of NCT of Delhi”. To another query “Has the Delhi Election Commission written to these Municipal Corporations/Delhi Government/other government agency for funds to organize these elections”, the reply given was “the State Election Commission, government of NCT of Delhi and UT. Chandigarh has written a letter to the Private Secretary (UD), Govt. of NCT of Delhi, requesting for making necessary arrangements of funds for conducting bye-elections”. To another question regarding funding of such elections in the past, the reply got was “Municipal Corporation of Delhi”.

Shri Maken said in another RTI question to the East Delhi Municipal Corporation whether the “Delhi Election Commission has written to these Municipal Corporations/Delhi Government/other Government agency for funds to organize these elections”, the reply received was “Every month sent information to Election Commission of conducting these elections. (Copy of Shri Ajay Maken’s letter to Kejriwal and replies to RTI questions are also enclosed).

Shri Maken said on 24th February, 2015, Shri S.S.Gill, Secretary of the State Election Commission, had written to the Delhi Government that “this Commission has planned to process the election work in the month of March, 2015 and ending with polling in the third week of April. For conducting elections to 13 wards and meet out the expenditure approximately Rs 21 crore are required for smooth completion of the election process”.

Shri Ajay Maken wondered whether the Delhi Government would wait for another two years, till 2017, when elections to the MCD will be due, to hold the bye-elections. He said the AAP Government was not doing anything other than grabbing headlines, as it has not so far constituted the Lok Pal either, though the Kejriwal Government had resigned after 49 days in power the first time on the issue of the constitution of Lok Pal.

Shri Maken said the MCD bye-elections could have been conducted during the Lt. Governor’s rule too, but neither the LG nor the AAP Government had taken any steps to hold these pending elections. He said it was gross injustice to the people of the 13 MCD wards which are without councilors as they were suffering due to lack of proper civic amenities and other development works.