Kejriwal urges PM Modi to let MCD polls take place; says postponing elections weakens democracy

March 11, New Delhi: After the Delhi State Election Commission on Wednesday postponed the announcement of dates for the municipal polls in Delhi on receiving a communication from the Centre that it is working on unifying the three municipal corporations in the city, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal speaking in a press conference appealed to PM Narendra Modi to let MCD polls take place adding that postponing elections weakens democracy.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “I appeal to the PM with folded hands that if we force EC to cancel elections, it weakens it & the country. We’ve to protect the nation.”

He also stated that the main motive wasn’t the unification of all 3 MCDs. “Had they wanted, they would’ve done it in last 7 yrs. The motive was to postpone polls,” said Kejriwal.

He while expressing disapproval said, “Date for MCD polls was to be announced at 5 pm on March 9 but the same day an hour ago, Centre wrote to State EC to combine all 3 civic bodies into one, & that polls should be delayed. EC agreed to do so…Not okay if polls are cancelled, weakens EC role.”

He further said that if in LS polls they’ll say they want to bring Presidential system instead of Parliamentary system so will state polls be postponed if they say they want to unify 2 states. Kejriwal said, “What if tomorrow, before LS polls, they say that they want to bring Presidential system instead of Parliamentary system & make changes to Constitution, so postpone polls. Will polls be postponed? Will state polls be postponed if they say they want to unify 2 states?”

He moreover hit out the BJP-led central government for asking the election commission to delay municipal polls in the national capital & called it an “unprecedented” and “unconstitutional” move.

“A state election commission letter indicates that a bill to unify the MCD, which was trifurcated 10 years ago, was likely to be tabled in the ongoing session of Parliament which will resume on March 14. “The MCD elections have to be completed before May 18, so we still have time,” state election commissioner (SEC) SK Srivastava said on Wednesday announcing the delay in the civic poll dates.