DPCC chief Rambabu Sharma says no intention to defer MCD polls

New Delhi, Oct 12 (UNI) Scotching speculation of a deferment of the coming MCD polls, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Rambabu Sharma today said the election would be held on schedule.

Speaking to reporters after a two-hour meeting of MCD Councillors, held under the chairmanship of AICC general secretary Ashok Gehlot, Mr Sharma said there was no question of deferment of the MCD polls, scheduled to be held in March next year.

Refuting reports that Congress councillors were for deferment of the polls in view of the situation arising out of sealing and demolition in Delhi, Mr Sharma said all the Councillors were ready to contest polls.

In this context, he said today's meeting was held to discuss with the councillors of various areas the preparation for the forthcoming polls.

Present at the meeting, where about 100 councillors participated, were Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Delhi Mayor Farhad Suri and Chairman of the MCD Standing committee Jai Kishen Sharma.

Replying to question on sealing of commercial units in residential areas, Mr Sharma said the State Government and the Centre were making all possible efforts to provide relief to traders from sealing.

In this regard he said the October 5 meeting of the Group of Ministers on sealing had decided to file a plea in the Supreme Court for re-consideration of its September 29 order in which it had directed the nearly 3.5 lakh traders falling under the 2183 roads declared as commercial/mixed use areas as per the September 15 notification by the Delhi government to file affidavits in the court that they would close down their shops if the said notification was quashed by the Court.

UNI AR YA DB2054