‘Delhi govt sitting on ward delimitation report’

The elections to the three municipal corporations—North Delhi Municipal Corporation, South Delhi Municipal Corporation and East Delhi Municipal Corporation—are scheduled to be held in April. The last time it was held on 15 April 2012.

The Commission had prepared its draft report in September itself. Later on, the final delimitation report was submitted to the Delhi Chief Secretary on 20 November. Subsequently, the Chief Secretary sent it to the state Urban Development Minister Satyender Jain on 25 November. However, no action has been taken so far. Sources said any delay on part of the state government in notifying the amendments in the constituencies may lead to delay in holding the municipal corporation elections.

A BJP delegation recently met the outgoing LG Najeeb Jung in this regard. Jung reportedly told the delegation that he has sought a report from the State Election Commission.

Speaking to The Sunday Guardian, the Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta said the Delhi government is unnecessarily holding back the report of delimitation. “It appears that the government is not serious about holding civic elections on time. The Delhi government should take steps to ensure that the amendments are notified on time so that the elections could be held as per schedule,” he said.

The State Election Commission had prepared its draft report in September itself. Later on, the final delimitation report was submitted to the Delhi Chief Secretary on 20 November.

The Commission had started the process of delimitation in October last year for which a committee was constituted under the chairmanship of the State Election Commissioner.

The exercise was carried out keeping in mind the increase in population in Delhi. In 2001, the population was 1.34 crore which increased to 1.64 crore in 2011, as per the Census data. There has also been a change in many Assembly constituencies in Delhi. For example, constituencies like Bawana and Vikaspuri have seen a significant increase in population while constituencies like Ballimaran and Matiala have seen a decline. Sources said the average population of each ward is kept at 60,000 and the boundary of the municipal wards has been redrawn from within the boundary of the existing Assembly constituency, using geospatial maps and data from the 2011 Census.

It is to be noted that a delimitation exercise is done in every 10 years. Accordingly, boundaries of the existing wards would be redrawn on the basis of the increase/decrease of population in a particular Assembly constituency. After the exercise, the size of the wards may vary, but the number of wards would remain the same.