Congress to resist seat rotation

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, AUG. 29.

The Congress(I) Councillors today impressed upon the party leadership to wage a decisive battle for putting an end to the system of rotation of seats in the MCD. They urged the Delhi Government to take up the issue with the Centre in right earnest and get it scrapped so that justice is done to the people and elected representatives.

This unanimous view emerged at the day-long convention of Councillors held at the Constitution Club here by the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee(I). The meeting was chaired by the DPCC(I) president, Mr. Subhash Chopra. The Chief Minister, Ms. Sheila Dikshit, and the AICC(I) general secretary incharge Delhi, Mr. Kamal Nath, sat through the deliberations along with the Leader of the Opposition in the MCD, Mr. Ram Babu Sharma.

A majority of Councillors were of the view that rotation of seats should be frozen before elections are held early next year. They said the system was faulty as there was virtually no accountability among those elected. The Councillors knew that they are not going to contest again and so did not work in the area as a result of which the people suffered. They felt the Delhi Government should formally take up the issue with the Centre particularly the Union Home Ministry, and get things sorted out.

The Chief Minister, Ms. Sheila Dikshit, said the party should get down to the job of revising the electoral rolls as this was an important aspect. She said the voters lists need to be scrutinised as the old ones were outdated. The party should organise a special drive to revise the voters' lists. She also emphasised her support for a freeze on the rotation of seats. She stressed upon the need to present a united front and reminded the party that ``it was the Congress which defeated the Congress'' and this should not happen in Delhi.

Mr. Kamal Nath asked the Councillors to get ready for the polls and said they had done a good job during the last four and half years. He asked Mr. Chopra to prepare an election manifesto under the leadership of Mr. Ram Babu Sharma. A process of consultations should also be set in motion by involving functionaries at the block and district levels. The DPCC(I) should finalise a panel of candidates from each area by December 1 so that final list is released on time.

The DPCC(I) president said time had come to wage yet another battle against the BJP and urged partymen to spare no effort to ensure the victory of the Congress(I). Lashing out at the BJP, Mr. Chopra said rampant corruption prevailed in the MCD and a majority of schemes, including mid-day meal scheme for children, had not been implemented. Mr. Chopra said the party stood united and would certainly defeat the BJP, in the Corporation polls.

Mr. Sharma felt the DPCC(I) should not invite direct applications for tickets. This job should be done by the block and district committees along with the prominent leaders. This would not create confusion in the electoral process and reduce the chances of rebel candidates contesting.

He said the Congress(I) had made life miserable for the BJP in the Corporation during the last four and half years by raising various issues of corruption and successfully cornering the ruling party. He was confident the party would score a thumping victory.

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