BJP’s top MCD leaders pull up socks for bypolls

The ruling BJP’s top leadership in the three civic bodies have started giving special attention to the constituencies going to the bypolls in their attempt to ensure victory in the upcoming municipal bypolls. To win public support, top political functionaries of municipal corporations are making the rounds of these constituencies to fix and improve civic amenities. Bypolls for 13 municipal wards are likely to be held in the first half of May.

Last week, mayors, the chairman of the standing committee and other senior functionaries of the three municipal corporations regularly visited these 13 constituencies. Bypolls will be held in seven wards of South Delhi Municipal Corporation, four of North Delhi Municipal Corporation and two of East Delhi Municipal Corporation.

Well-placed sources in the Delhi BJP said the party has given instructions to all office-bearers in the three corporations to make their presence visible in these 13 constituencies where bypolls are to be held. “In the absence of elected representatives (municipal councillors) these wards were neglected by the civic authorities, and the fault also lies with us. The party leadership has asked the senior leadership in the corporations to personally visit these areas and try to fix problems at the earliest,” he added.

Even party Lok Sabha members have started visiting these constituencies. Lok Sabha member from East Delhi Mahesh Giri recently visited one of the wards in his constituency.

Following the instructions, every day one senior leader of the corporation, along with officials, makes a round of these constituencies.

NDMC mayor Ravinder Gupta said it is his and others’ moral duty to visit these wards to hear the people in the absence of a councillor. “As political head of the corporation it is my responsibility to take care of civic amenities in the municipal wards which are not represented by elected members. In the absence of a councillor, it is the duty of the MLA to take care of these municipal wards. But AAP MLAs failed to do their duty,” added Mr Gupta.