Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar
"The decision would affect results in 50 to 60 wards"
NEW DELHI: The decision of nearly 250 residents' welfare associations to come together and unitedly fight the forthcoming Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has made the leading political parties do their calculations once again. Their think tank believes that this decision of the RWAs would impact the results in about 50 to 60 wards and they may even succeed in sending about a score of their representatives to the House.
A senior Congress leader admitted that the gains they had sought to make through an increase in the number of wards of MCD from 134 to a minimum of 272 would get almost annulled with the RWAs throwing their hat into the political ring.
"They have a significant presence in about 60 wards. These are primarily in colonies like Mayur Vihar, Dwarka and Rohini, where there are a significant number of middle-income group (MIG) and lower-income group (LIG) flats. With such colonies having a population of about 1.5 million, the RWAs can spring several surprises."
Apart from the fact that the RWAs have been constantly raising issues which matter the most to the area residents, another factor which is loaded in their favour is that they are almost cadre based and can upset the applecart of mass-based parties through better booth management.
"So even if they are not able to win many seats, they would definitely set the cat among the pigeons. With the size of the constituencies becoming smaller and every constituency being redefined, no candidate would be able to breathe easy till the results are out. Also this might lead towards a hung House which would further empower the Independents."
Agreeing with these views, another senior politician said the RWAs had been strengthened by the Delhi Government through its Bhagidari scheme and have become a force to reckon with. "They are rebels with a cause and are not afraid to raise issues that concern them. With massive backing from the area residents, these RWAs can cause trouble for the parties that nurtured them but could not keep them happy. Rightly so they now want not only their rights but also a share in the power."
Yet another aspect going in favour of the RWAs is that the office of the State Election Commission has still not announced which of the wards would be general and which would come under the reserved category. "With less than two months to go for the polls the parties are in a dilemma. With the number of seats expected to more than double to at least 272, a large number of workers are eager for tickets, but till the time the nature of the seats becomes clear, the political parties cannot even shortlist the candidates for each seat."
On the other hand, the RWAs have been consistently working with the residents and are utilising the time to create ward committees, comprising 11 members each, that would help in short-listing "clean and effective candidates" from their respective residential area for the polls. (Source: The Hindu)
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