Delimitation of Karnal MC remains in limbo

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, July 1

With just one day left for the completion of the tenure of the incumbent house of the councillors of the Karnal Municipal Corporation (KMC), which is going to be completed on July 2, the delimitation of the KMC limits is yet to be finalised by the government.

The delay in the finalisation of the delimitation may delay the election process of the civic body.

Keeping in mind the expected elections of the KMC in this year, the state government has notified the proposed new delimitation (wardbandi) of the KMC in April, following which the district administration has sought objections from the general public. Most of the councillors raised their voice over the new delimitation and accused the BJP of getting the delimitation as per its convenience. They even blamed the government for changing the structure of almost all 20 wards, while the BJP leaders refuted the allegations and said that it was done by a committee following the direction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

SDM Narendra Malik listened to the objections by giving personal hearing to the objectioners and filed a report to higher authorities.

Sources in the KMC say the government has raised some more objections in the draft wardbandi and sent it back to the district authorities. After clearing all objections, the delimitation report was sent to the government again a few days ago, but still it is pending with the government.

“We have submitted the report after clearing all objections,” said Rajiv Mehta, Commissioner, MC.

Deputy Commissioner Aditya Dahiya says they have filed the draft delimitation to the government. As soon as the notification of the final delimitation is issued, they will make it for the general public.

Meanwhile, councillors of the opposition parties are taking a jibe at the delay and claiming it to be delaying elections tactics by the ruling party. “The state government is delaying the elections as it has lost its ground. The delimitation has been finalised as per the will of the BJP leaders and the delay and raising objections by the headquarters are just an eyewash,” said Manoj Wadhwa, Deputy Mayor.

He said the government should announce the elections data as the current house was going to end its tenure on July 2.

“We were hopeful that the government will conduct elections in August or September, but the delay in the finalisation of wardbandi shows that the government is shying away from elections,” said a Congress-supported councillor.