New Delhi: Notwithstanding its stiff
opposition to trifurcation of MCD, BJP is likely to support
the split when a Bill to facilitate the division comes up at
two-day special session of the Delhi Assembly beginning
Wednesday.
At a legislative party meeting today, almost all the MLAs
said that the party should not oppose the Bill as the passage
of the bill became an academic exercise after approval to the
proposal by the Union Home Ministry.
They said BJP had itself demanded division of the MCD in
the past and it was mentioned in the party`s election
manifesto for assembly polls.
"However, no formal decision was taken in this regard as
any such decision may give an impression that the legislature
party and the city unit are at the loggerheads on the issue,"
said a senior BJP MLA.
Following approval to the trifurcation by the Centre last
week, Delhi BJP president Vijender Gupta had termed move as
"undemocratic" and "unconstitutional" and targeted Chief
Minister Sheila Dikshit for pushing the proposal that
"reflects her individual agenda".
"It is almost sure that we are not going to oppose the
bill in the assembly," said another MLA. The BJP has been
strongly opposing the move to split the MCD.
Heeding to a long-standing demand of Dikshit, the Centre
on Thursday had cleared the proposal to split the BJP-ruled
MCD ahead of civic polls early next year.
The move to split BJP-ruled MCD into three parts is aimed
at ensuring better delivery of civic services and streamlining
its functioning.
As per the proposal, the new civic bodies in North and
South Delhi will have 104 wards each while the civic body in
East Delhi will have 64 wards and a directorate of municipal
services would be set up to coordinate functioning of the
three new bodies.
The legislative party also passed a resolution demanding
Delhi government not to allow foreign retail chains to open
shop in the city to protect the interest of the small and
marginal retailers.
PTI
