Councillors’ spouses may also get ticket

In the upcoming municipal elections, 50% seats are reserved for women. But it seems spouses of present councillors may get a chance to keep the seats within the family. Hamari Jamatia reports.

In the upcoming municipal elections, 50% seats are reserved for women. But it seems spouses of present councillors may get a chance to keep the seats within the family.

Sorting out the confusion, Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Vijender Gupta on Saturday said as long as spouses are “capable of holding their own” they will be given tickets.

“As long as spouses have an entity and identity of his/her own and have been an active participant in social work like RWA issues or party work, he/she will be considered for a ticket. Same goes for switch in wards,” Gupta told Hindustan Times.

His stand comes at a time when party workers are confused over the reservation issue. Of the 272 MD wards, 138 are reserved for women, including 24 seats for SC candidates. In addition, 22 wards are reserved for SC candidates, leaving the general category with 114 seats.

Several big leaders could benefit from the latest move including Mayor Rajni Abbi, whose seat has been reserved for general category, and Gupta himself, as the seat he represents has been reserved for women.

Other leaders who will be losing their seats include Suman Kumar Gupta, Gulshan Bhatia, Vijay Pandit and Rakesh Gullaiya among others.