Reservation in MCD makes councillors uneasy
Doors open for women candidates, veteran leaders to look for new seats
The reservation and recategorisation of seats for women and SC candidates for the forthcoming polls of three newly formed municipalities in the Capital has upset the apple cart of several senior sitting councillors from the ruling BJP as well as Opposition Congress.
As a result of 50 per cent women’s reservation, the wards of Delhi BJP chief Vijender Gupta (Rohini), Opposition leader Jai Kishen Sharma (Roshan pura), leader of the House in MCD, Subhash Arya (Subhash Nagar), former Mayor, Prithvi Raj Sahwney (Janak Puri South) have fallen in the hands of women, while these leaders will have to hunt for other safe seats. Deputy Mayor Anil Sharma will also bear the brunt of women reservation as his R K Puram ward has been reserved for a SC candidate.
Other senior BJP leaders who have lost their wards are Raj Khurana (Rana Pratap Bagh), Suman Kumar Gupta (Chandni Chowk) and Gulshan Bhatia (New Ranjit Nagar). Khurana is chairman of Civil Lines ward committee, while Gupta and Bhatia are members of the Standing Committee.
Some BJP councillors feel lucky as their wards are not affected by the reservation. These include Chairman of Standing Committee, Yogender Chandolia (Dev Nagar), Chairman of Works Committee, Jagdish Mamgain (Kasturba Nagar), Chairman of Education Committee, Mahendra Nagpal (Wazirpur), former mayors Dr Kanwar Sain (Vishwas Nagar) and Arti Mehar (Hauz Khas).
The list of Congress leaders who are not pleased with the notification for reservation of seats includes Chairman Ward committee city zone, Renuka Gupta (Ballimaran), Standing Committee member, Tulsi Ram Sablania (East Patel Nagar) and Ajit Singh Chaudhary (Dilshad Garden). Among the gloomy faces, luck is smiling on some Congress councillors as well, they include DU President, Shalu Malik (Shastri Nagar) and former Mayor Satbir Singh (Mehrauli).
While male candidates who have lost their seats to reservation have been taken aback by the development, the parties are unlikely to give seats to women from unreserved wards for obvious reasons.
“Are these 50 per cent not enough that more woman should be given tickets from the open wards also. Where will the political parties get so many women to contest elections?” said a disgruntled BJP councillor.
