Corporators object to delimitation excercise

Of the objections received,most are from the elected representatives and interestingly are concerned with the development projects that have been kept out of the electoral panel from where they plan to contest. “It was at my insistence that the civic administration undertook work on a biogas plant at Peshwe Park. Also,the PMC started the first plastic to fuel plant in the park and has also developed the only adventure sports facility for children,” said BJP corporator Manisha Ghate. The park was in the electoral ward that Ghate represents but now the entire ward has been merged in a new panel. “But the park has been kept out of the panel….this is injustice,” she said.

Ghate said the voters would be judging her on the work done in this term. “And now since the development project I initiatied has been kept out of the panel from where I will contest the poll,it will affect my performance,” said Ghate,who is among the several sitting corporators who have registered their objections. “The PMC could have included the entire ward,including the park,in the new panel as it would not have disturbed the population ratio on which delimitation has been carried out,” she reasoned.

Shiv Sena corporator Deepali Oswal too is unhappy. “My wife represent the electoral ward in Bibvewadi area and has now been distributed in three different panels. Most of the development work carried out by her is now scattered,” said Pramod Oswal,who plans to contest the polls in place of his wife. The maximum number of suggestions and objections have been raised from Bibewadi area,he added.

Congress leader Arun Dhimdhime said it was true that many corporators would be hit by the delimitation excercise. “But there is hardly anything that can be done. These objections cannot be the ground for ammending the new panel area decided by the Election Commission,” he said