Daggers drawn for MCD polls
Congress announces welfare schemes, BJP increases development funds
While the formal date for the MCD elections in April is yet to be announced, the political battle is already heating up in the Capital.
With several welfare schemes announced in past one month alone — ranging from houses for Economically Weaker Section (EWS), stationary to students of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes, money for healthy diet to pregnant women and approval to Mon rails — the Delhi government is already “talking what counts”.
Opposition BJP, which has a majority in Municipal Corporation of Delhi, has sharpened its attack on the government.
Demanding that the government should issue a White Paper on the announcement of providing houses for the EWS, roll back of increase in electricity and water charges, BJP too is making the right noises. And henceforth, the tempo will only rise.
“The promise is an election stunt for securing votes because the government was talking about alloting 13,700 flats by March, whereas by the second week of February, the model code of conduct would come into force for the MCD elections,” said Vijender Gupta, president of Delhi BJP unit while demanding the white paper on these flats.
However, Delhi’s Congress government alone cannot be singled out for announcing welfare schemes in the election season. Finalising budget estimates for the next financial year and revised estimate for the current fiscal year, chairman of the Standing Committee in BJP-led MCD, Yogender Chandolia increased the development funds allocated for a particular area from Rs 7 crore to Rs 10 crore.
Besides, the scholarship for girl students has been increased from Rs 300 to Rs 500 and the monthly pension of senior citizens, widows and the handicapped from Rs 200 to Rs 1,200.
Apart from development and welfare schemes, the BJP think-tank believes that cornering government on the issue of provisional certificates to non-existing unauthorised colonies and alleged massive land scam can have detrimental impact on the fortunes of Congress in the forthcoming elections.
“I think the issue of Provisional certificates will have a massive impact on MCD elections. It will be an important issue for the BJP in the elections and Congress will have to pay for its sins,” said Dr Harshvardhan, ex-minister and BJP MLA told Deccan Herald.
Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister was a busy women on Sunday. The naming ceremony of Late Pandit Deep Chand Sharma Road underbridge at Lawrence Road, inauguration of a community centre in Shakurpur village, inauguration of Railway underbridge at Sri Nagar Railway Road near the same village were just a few of her assignments.
