The Hindu : New Delhi News : Decision on new Mayor today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 07, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Decision on new Mayor today

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, APRIL 6. Even as lobbying for the post of Delhi's Mayor intensified among the ruling Congress Councillors in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, a final decision in this regard is expected only tomorrow after the party finalises the criteria for electing a new Mayor. Another reason for the delay is the pre-occupation of the party leadership with the selection of candidates for the seven Lok Sabha seats in the Capital.

The one-year tenure of the outgoing Mayor, Ashok K. Jain, and his deputy, Varyam Kaur, expired on March 31. A special meeting of the MCD House has been convened on April 12 to select a new team. As per the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, the post of the Mayor has been reserved for a Councillor from the Scheduled Caste category this year.

The Municipal Secretary, Vishnu Swaroop Sharma, said April 7 was the last date for filing of nomination papers for the post of Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Interestingly, the party is still trying to formulate a criteria on the issue. One section of the party is of the view that only second timers should be considered for the post, while another feels that veteran first timers should also be given a chance. The two hot favourites between the second timers are Panna Lal Khairwal and Parveen Massey.

Among the prominent people lobbying for the ceremonial post include the senior most party Councillor from Laxmi Nagar, A. R. Verma, Meer Singh from Chhatarpur, Khajan Singh from Usmanpur. In fact, young Kumari Aruna from Alipur and Darshana from Bhogal are also in contention for the post of the Mayor. Though both Mr. Verma and Mr. Meer Singh are the first time Councillors, they are the senior most among the present group of Congress Councillors.

Mr. Verma is considered to be very close to senior Congress leaders and the Maharashtra Chief Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde. He has also worked in the Lok Sabha Secretariat. On the other hand, Mr. Singh, an M. A. in Political Science, came into politics after resigning from the banking services.

Mr. Khairwal, has staked his claim with the argument that he was a second time Councillor and had the necessary experience to handle the post. Mr. Khajan Singh is reported to be lobbying for the post arguing that he was from East Delhi and came from Poorvanchal. Fifty-year-old Praveen Massy has been elected twice from Dallupura and has been an active member of the Congress since 1977.

One of the youngest Councillors in the present House, Kumari Aruna is being promoted by some senior Delhi Congress leaders arguing that she was from rural parts of the Capital and her becoming the Mayor would help the party in the coming Lok Sabha polls. With the Congress having 105 members against the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party's 17 Councillors, the election of the Congress Mayor becomes a mere formality once the names are announced.

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