Congress slams MCD Budget, targets BJP over civic failures
The Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) on Monday termed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Budget for 2026–27 a “jumla” intended to mislead the public. Addressing a press conference at Rajiv Bhawan, DPCC president Devender Yadav accused the BJP of using the Budget to side-line elected representatives while concealing the corporation’s failures over the years.
Criticising the BJP for increasing the financial powers of the Municipal Commissioner from Rs 5 crore to Rs 50 crore, Yadav said, “The BJP has crippled the elected representatives and made the Commissioner the sole authority for development works.”
He also questioned the proposal to increase the daily sitting allowance of councillors from Rs 300 to Rs 3,000, calling it misleading. “The MCD cannot implement this hike without approval from the Union Home Ministry. It is a clear attempt to fool corporators and the people,” he added.
Yadav highlighted shortcomings in sanitation and civic services, stating, “Out of 11,000 metric tonnes of garbage generated every day, only 8,000 metric tonnes are being disposed of properly. Unauthorised colonies remain submerged in filth due to lack of sanitation workers.”
Other Congress leaders present at the press conference also criticised the Budget. Anil Bhardwaj, chairman of the Communication Department, said, “The reduction in house tax rebates from 15 per cent to 10 per cent for individual taxpayers is a betrayal of Delhi residents. The BJP is failing in its core responsibility of ensuring cleanliness.”
Former Mayor Farhad Suri questioned discrepancies in the Budget figures, stating, “The same Budget has been presented with wildly different figures by the Commissioner, the Standing Committee Chairman and the Leader of the House. This shows a lack of transparency and accountability.”
Nazia Danish, leader of Congress in the MCD, accused the BJP of neglecting basic civic needs, saying, “Sanitation, health services, garbage, sewage and toilet facilities are in terrible condition. Announcing Rs 50 lakh for constructing five urinals per ward is meaningless when not a single toilet has been built in over half of Delhi’s wards with unauthorised colonies.”
Congress leaders collectively alleged that the Budget was being used to cover up corruption and mismanagement, warning that promises such as increased allowances and RWA funds were hollow gestures without a practical implementation plan.
