Councillors lose sleep over 50% reservation for women in MCD

With a number of municipal councillors losing sleep over the issue of women reservation in the coming municipal elections, the State Election Commission has called an all-party meeting to discuss this and other related issues.

With a number of municipal councillors losing sleep over the issue of women reservation in the coming municipal elections, the State Election Commission has called an all-party meeting to discuss this and other related issues.

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Municipal councillors, members of legislative members and other political members will attend the meeting which will take place on Wednesday.

Suggestions and the opinions of political parities will be examined by the commission and after a few days, the reserved seats will be announced.

When trifurcation of the MCD was decided, Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit had reserved 50 per cent seats for women in the civic agency to give more representation to them. Hence, out of the 272 seats, 134 will be reserved for women candidates. Delhi has become the first state to introduce it. However, this means that seats of a number of male councillors will get reserved for women candidates now.

According to sources, a number of municipal councillors have been making a beeline outside the State Election Commission to know which seats will be reserved for women — odd or even numbers.

“A meeting has been called wherein we will discuss the issue with all the political parties and find out about their views on the issue. We will take note of their suggestions and if necessary, will incorporate it too,” said a senior official. MCD elections are scheduled for April.

The State Election Commission is also trying to ensure that one seat in assembly constituency should be reserved for the SC candidates.