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| Congress divided over splitting civic body | | Sonia's warning to Delhi CM, PCC chief | | BL KAK
NEW DELHI | JAN 31
Congress supremo, Sonia Gandhi, has warned Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, and Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) chief, Rambabu Sharma, to stop adopting measures that could further disrupt smooth functioning of the party in the Delhi region. Sonia's warning has followed the vertical division in the ruling Congress party over splitting the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) into four corporations.
While a section of the party, headed by Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, is in favour of splitting the MCD for better efficiency, most of the city fathers who have support of the party's State unit president, Rambabu Sharma, are opposed to the move. According to sources close to Sheila Dikshit, Sonia's warning was promptly followed by a quiet meeting the Delhi Chief Minister had with her party supremo, Sonia.
What transpired between the two was not divulged. According to these sources, however, Sheila Dikshit once again apprised Sonia Gandhi of what was termed as "far-from-productive" activity of the Rambabu camp. Significance is being attached to the talk which suggests that Sheila Dikshit may have her way as she enjoys total patronage of the party's central leadership in her mission to make Delhi a world class city by 2010, when Delhi is to play host to the Commonwealth Games.
Accordingly, the Union Home Ministry that controls the MCD has started discussions on the proposal to split the civic body. "The only proposal before us is whether to split the MCD into smaller corporations before or after the upcoming civic polls", a Home Ministry official said. The Home Ministry has consequently put the Omesh Sehgal committee report on the backburner. The committee, headed by retired chief secretary of Delhi, Sehgal, has suggested giving more powers to the corporators and making the zonal offices more accountable.
The proposed split, however, is creating its own problems. A decision has already been officially notified to increase the strength of MCD to 272 members instead of the current 134. Consequently, fresh polls would see election of 272 members. The Town Hall, MCD's headquarters located in Chandni Chowk, can accommodate only 168 members. Even after removing the visitors' gallery, the sitting capacity cannot exceed 200. Civic centre, the proposed new headquarters of the MCD located at Minto Road near downtown Connaught Place is currently under construction and may be ready only some time in 2009.
The Home Ministry official said that as per the proposal, MCD would be split into four corporations, one each for Trans-Yamuna area, city, Delhi rural and outer Delhi, each with 68 elected members. "They may hold their meetings at the existing Town Hall in turns or even hire halls. These logistics can be worked out later on", he added. MCD elections are due to be held in March-April. The six-year tenure of the civic body is due to expire on March 31. In all likelihood, Delhi will opt for a Mayor in Council system wherein the Mayor becomes the most powerful.
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