The Hindu : New Delhi News : Setback to Sheila as move to divide MCD deferred

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 24, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Setback to Sheila as move to divide MCD deferred

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI, AUG. 23. In a clear setback to long-running efforts to split the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, a special meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) convened here today to discuss the matter failed to arrive at a consensus on the issue. Instead, the legislators gave vent to their anger over the dominance of the bureaucracy in the Delhi Government as well as the Corporation and the marginalisation of the elected representatives which they said was sending out conflicting signals.

The plans of the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit's camp to get through a resolution on the division of MCD did not work out. Also, the effort to seek transfer of three important wings of MCD -- Horticulture Department, Primary Education and Hospitals -- could not be taken up in view of the mood prevailing inside the marathon meeting of the CLP which lasted a record three and a half hours. It is also understood that the high command had been requested to depute an observer for the meeting, but it is learnt to have conveyed to the Chief Minister that the process for discussions should be carried through before taking any concrete step.

The free and frank discussion often turned into heated arguments. There were instances of heated exchanges between the Chief Minister and the Rohtas Nagar MLA, Rambabu Sharma, who strongly opposed division of the Corporation and instead wanted the bureaucracy to be tamed before any step to divide the Corporation was taken. Not everything went off according to plan and a number of MLAs said no hasty decision should be taken thereby creating an impression that the Congress-ruled Corporation was corrupt and that was why it was being divided. However, the strongest opposition came from Mr. Rambabu Sharma who said he was against any division as the electorate had given its verdict for a five-year rule to the Corporation. He is learnt to have challenged anyone for a long debate on the working of the Corporation and said instead of breaking it up, the Government should work towards introduction of the Mayor-in-Council concept. It is understood that Mr. Sharma said the MCD Commissioner was so powerful that he did not even care for the Delhi Assembly and virtually threw into the dustbin the resolutions sent by it on various issues. "If at all anybody has to be replaced, it should be the MCD Commissioner. If anybody has to be tamed it should be the bureaucracy and not the elected representatives," he added.

The Kalkaji MLA, Subhash Chopra, said there was a conspiracy in the Corporation to sabotage developmental works in his constituency. He said a foundation stone for construction of a hospital was laid one and half years ago but not a brick has been laid there. "I have come to know that the Commissioner had been given instructions not to do any developmental work in my constituency. Who has given these instructions?" he asked. Mr. Chopra said he favoured division of the Corporation as it was part of the party manifesto, but Mr. Sharma did not agree with him.

The Mahipalpur MLA, Vijay Lochav, said that nothing should be done in haste and first the bureaucracy should be tamed. Tarvinder Singh Marwah said nothing should be done to tarnish the image of the Councillors and this way the Congress was falling into the trap of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He said first the bureaucracy should be put on leash before dictating terms to the elected representatives. The Chief Minister said discussions were being held to take the view of the party MLAs on this issue and nothing had been finalised. Another meeting will be held with the party Member of Parliament and if need be the Councillors before submitting a report to the party high command for further action.

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