Cong says process rigged to delay polls
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Congress on Wednesday claimed anomalies and discrepancies in the delimitation process of the municipal wards under process by the Delhi State Election Commission.
Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken said anomalies were intentionally being created to delay the municipal elections due next year.
“The draft report on the delimitation process prepared by the state polling body is full of flaws and in gross violation of the notification of the Lieutenant Governor. According to the notification, boundaries of each ward should be carved within the boundary of an assembly constituency,” Maken said.
As per the new delimitation draft, boundaries of 60 out of 68 assembly constituencies have been crossed, he added.
“For example, in Mehrauli Assembly constituency in south Delhi, Katwaria Sarai, which is part of Mehrauli, has been shifted to the Malviya Nagar Assembly constituency. Similarly Khirki Extension, which is part of the Greater Kailash Assembly constituency, has been shifted to Malviya Nagar,” said Maken.
The Congress leaders said the delimitation was being carried without consulting the “associate members”.
“The delimitation committee should consist of the State Election Commissioner as chairman, additional commissioner of the MCD and a joint secretary of the Delhi government’s urban development department, as members apart from five MLAs and five municipal councillors, as members,” said Congress leader Pratyush Kant.
Maken said the Congress will hold a demonstration outside the state election commission’s office on Monday to protest against the anomalies.