MCD elections are just 45 days away

The national capital's most important elections after the Lok Sabha and assembly polls - those for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi - the world's second-largest civic body after Tokyo in terms of number of voters - will be held on April 15. HT reports.

The national capital's most important elections after the Lok Sabha and assembly polls - those for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi - the world's second-largest civic body after Tokyo in terms of number of voters - will be held on April 15.

Counting will take place on April 17 and councillors of the three corporations of the now-trifurcated MCD will have to take oath by April 21.

The outcome of the bipolar contest between the incumbent BJP and the Congress will determine who gets to decide how the civic body's annual budget of around Rs 7,000 crore will be spent on services and amenities for 1.6 crore people or 97% of the city's population.

The remaining 3% is in the hands of the New Delhi Municipal Council and the Delhi Cantonment Board.

This is the first time elections will be held after trifurcation of the civic body into south, east and north Delhi corporations.

Although voter participation in the last polls in 2007 (42% turnout) was not enthusiastic, state election commissioner Rakesh Mehta said while announcing the dates on Thursday that he expects a 60% turnout this time.

If you don't have a voter identity card, you have 10 days within which to apply for one. You can get in touch with the voter centre in your assembly constituency or you can apply online at www.ceodelhi.nic.in.

"We will organise street plays, walkathons and seminars to exhort people to vote," Mehta said.