Delhi Cabinet to examine splitting of MCD

Faced with stiff opposition from within Congress on splitting the MCD, chief minister Sheila Dikshit is likely to discuss with Cabinet tweaking the original proposal to placate those opposing the move.

Faced with stiff opposition from within Congress on splitting the MCD, chief minister Sheila Dikshit is likely to discuss with Cabinet tweaking the original proposal to placate those opposing the move.

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There is indication that the government may go for trifurcation of the MCD instead of splitting it into five smaller bodies as decided by the Cabinet last month. The government may also reverse its decision to increase the number of wards to 408 from current 272.

The indication to review the original decision comes three days after Dikshit met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi during which she had strongly pushed for splitting the MCD ahead of next year's municipal polls.

The Cabinet is expected to discuss making changes to the original decision as a cabinet decision can only be reversed or tweaked by the Cabinet, said officials.

Although Dikshit has been strongly advocating for splitting the MCD, DPCC president J P Aggarwal and several other leaders are opposing it tooth and nail saying majority in the party was not in favour of the proposal.

Sources said government was not going to fully reverse its original decision but may make some adjustments. They said the government may go for reserving 50 per cent seats for women from current 33 per cent even if number of wards is not increased.

Last month, the Cabinet had accepted recommendations of a high-level committee, headed by Health Minister A K Walia, which suggested splitting the civic body into five smaller municipalities. The committee had also suggested increasing the total number of wards from current 272 to around 408.