The Supreme Court’s order banning diesel cabs in Delhi has impacted the State Election Commission’s preparedness to conduct bypolls on May 15 in 13 municipal wards in the national Capital, according to sources.
The Commission has hired 100 odd diesel vehicles to ferry polling officers and other logistic supporters to conduct free and fair elections. After the Supreme Court order to ban diesel cabs, the Commission is finding it difficult to book cabs to facilitate the movement of its officials.
Taking a serious note of unprecedented situation, State Election Commissioner Rakesh Mehta has called an emergency meeting with Delhi Police Commissioner and Transport Commissioner of the Delhi Government to address the issue on Tuesday, top sources told The Pioneer. Barely 12 days left for the bypolls that are slated to be held on May 15 while the counting of the votes will be done on May 17.
Sources said the Commission would urge Police Commissioner and Transport Commissioner to ensure cabs on elections duty not be seized or ensure alternative arrangements to conduct free and fair polls of municipal corporations.
The Commission needs vehicle for its observers, assistant returning officers, flying squads, surveillance teams, micro observers, polling officers and presiding officers to conduct elections during bypolls.
It would be pertinent to mention that the Delhi Government was initially not willing to conduct bypolls of MCDs. The Opposition went on Delhi High Court with a plea to conduct bypolls of 13 municipal wards. After court’s order, the Government has agreed for the polls and State Election Commission notified the dates.
Of the 13 wards witnessing the by-elections, Vikas Nagar, Navada, Matiala, Munirka, Nanakpura, Bhati and Tekhand fall under the jurisdiction of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, Quammrunddin Nagar, Shalimar Bagh, Wazirpur and Ballimaran fall under the North Delhi Municipal Committee and Khichripur and Jhilmil are under the East Delhi Municipal body.
Only Munirka ward is reserved for the women candidates. The posts of councillors in the 13 wards fell vacant after nine of them resigned on becoming legislators in the 2013 Assembly election and four after the 2015 elections.