J K Sharma elected MCD Standing Committee Chairman

New Delhi, Apr 21 (UNI) Jai Kishen Sharma of the Congress today assumed the post of chairman of the Standing committee of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi with a resolve to remove corruption from the ranks of the civil-bodies.

Mr Sharma was unanimously elected to the post of the chairman as he is the only person to have filed his nomination till April 17, the last day for filing of nominations. The BJP had not filed any nomination for the post.

At the same time, Mr Tarsem Bansal of the Congress was unanimously elected as the deputy chairman of the MCD Standing Committee with Mr Bansal being the only candidate to have filed nomination till the deadline of filing of nominations.

Addressing mediapersons after assuming his post, Mr Sharma said his first priority would be the renioval of corruption from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

''It is important that we present before the people about a clean image of the MCD so that they give a good impression about the corporation,''Mr Sharma said.

''The MCD workers should work for the well being of the people of Delhi and the development of the city so that we are well prepared for the 2010 Commonwealth Games,''he said.

He, however, denied that there was a nexus between corrupt officials and politicians.

On the present crisis in Delhi arising out of sealing of shops in residential areas, as per the order of the Supreme Court, Mr Sharma said,''we will make efforts to provide relief to the people of Delhi from the ongoing sealing operation. We will they one beet to remove fear from the minds of the common people and small traders.'' He said the MCD leaders had been meeting Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and others to seek relief for the people of Delhi on the sealing issue.

''The Supreme Court has fixed April 28 as the date for hearing the Union Government's plea for a six month moratorium on the sealing operation. I am hopeful that the situation will be resolved by then,''Mr Sahrma said.

In the 18-member Standing Committee, 16 members belong to the Congress party and remaining two from the BJP.

Among those re-elected to the Standing Committee this year are BJP leader Vijender Gupta as well as Congress leaders Mukesh Goel an a Jitender Kochar.

UNI AR SI RAI1923