Cong councillors go against MCD division

Congress councillors finally broke their silence on Monday on the issue of the division of the MCD. They have now urged the chief minister to not go ahead with these plans as it will lead to Congress's defeat in the MCD elections. The polls will be held next year. HT reports.

Congress councillors finally broke their silence on Monday on the issue of the division of the MCD. They have now urged the chief minister to not go ahead with these plans as it will lead to Congress's defeat in the MCD elections. The polls will be held next year.

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Sixty-five Congress councillors met Sheila Dikshit and All India Congress Committee general secretary Oscar Fernandes separately to submit a memorandum on the issue. They also met Congress leaders Chaudhary Virender Singh and Motilal Vohra, as well as Delhi Congress chief JP Aggarwal.

"Records show that when the wards were increased, Congress lost the municipal elections. In 2007, when the wards were increased from 134 to 272, the party had lost miserably," said Jai Kishan Sharma, leader of Opposition in the MCD.

According to sources, Congress councillors believe that post-division, independent candidates will pose the biggest threat. "When the number of wards decreases, independent candidates have a better chance of winning. They are known to the people of the area," said a Congress councillor who did not wished to be named.

"We got a positive response. Chaudhary Virender Singh assured us that he will discuss the issue with Congress president Sonia Gandhi," said Sharma.