The State Election Commission on Wednesday postponed the announcement regarding the Delhi Municipal Corporation elections at the last moment. About half an hour before the press conference called in this regard, the State Election Commissioner got a proposal from the Lieutenant Governor of the Center. After this the announcement of the election was postponed till the next decision.
Delhi’s State Election Commissioner (SEC) SK Srivastava said that perhaps the central government wants to reorganize the three municipal corporations. It is possible that the three corporations may be merged into one. Srivastava said that I have received some message from the central government at 4:30 pm, so I am not able to announce the dates yet. Earlier, the SEC was scheduled to announce the dates during a 5 pm press conference.
He said that now he will take 5-7 more days to declare it. Srivastava told reporters that the government might want to reconstitute the MCD. Maybe they will merge all three corporations again, so we will have to consider it and then announce the dates for MCD elections. We will look into their advice as well as consider legal options.
Srivastava said that if all the three corporations become one, then we will have to decide accordingly. We are taking legal opinion on this issue.
Delhi Election Commissioner SK Srivastava has said that the central government has raised some issues which are pending legal investigation. We’ll take a few more days. We have to hold elections before May 18.
He further said that it does not mean that we are postponing the elections. Time is now and elections will be held within stipulated time. The North and South Delhi Municipal Corporations have 104 wards each. East Delhi Municipal Corporation has 64 wards. Half the wards are reserved for women candidates. Apart from this, wards are also reserved for the candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes.