Amid MCD unification plan, Delhi BJP leaders want polls to be delayed by six months

Senior BJP leaders said among the reforms that are being considered by the party dispensation is direct elections of mayors, their tenure being increased to at least two and half years instead of the present one year, as well as provisions for direct funds from the Centre.

“The state unit is of the opinion that if the party has taken the responsibility of reforming the system, then it should do it entirely and see its results before polls are held,” said another senior leader. In such circumstances elections could naturally be delayed by around six months, he said.

“The problem is that whenever we do something, the opposition thinks it is being done for electoral gains. But we have seen how the corporations were paralysed by the Delhi government, which did not pay its dues. This led to salary delays, strikes and new initiatives being affected,” he claimed, adding that the reforms were long due.

Sources said the state leadership will be holding a meeting with Union Minister Amit Shah in the coming days during which it would communicate its intention and give its feedback, after which the Centre will take a call.

At a recent party meeting at a union minister’s house, in which the state leadership, some MPs and corporation leaders were present, a presentation was given by officials of Daman and Diu on how the condition of schools and health infrastructure was improved in the union territory and how the same model could be followed in Delhi.

New initiatives taken to improve children’s reading, writing, and basic maths proficiency, strengthening healthcare delivery services, various paramedical courses launched in the union territory were shown in presentation. This led senior leaders to draw a conclusion that an image makeover of the civic bodies is needed to cut anti-incumbency before going to polls, said the leader.