MCD election: BJP, Cong ticket hopefuls on edge on last day of nominations

Monday is the last day to file nominations for Delhi municipal election scheduled on April 23. Even as the deadline inches closer, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress are yet to release the complete list of contestants.

Many candidates expecting to be picked are now tense as they have not heard from their parties yet. Returning officers will be accepting these forms till 6pm on Monday.

The BJP, so far, has released the names of candidates for only 175 wards out of 272 wards. It still has to announce contestants for as many as 97 wards. Sources said there is delay because of difference of opinion over who should get the tickets. HT had earlier reported that after the BJP decided not to repeat sitting councillors or their family members in the polls, it received 33,000 applications from aspirants, including a dhaba owner, a para-athlete, a fashion designer and even a student of Delhi University.

Sources said, the party is delaying the announcement of nominations for all wards to prevent disgruntled party workers from filing as Independents.

Earlier, the Congress had announced its candidates for 140 wards and on Sunday night it released another list for 127. The party is still left with five wards.

Among those given tickets by Congress on Sunday night, many are relatives of former councillors and party leaders. Several sitting councillors like Ishrat Jahan and Zakir Khan have been denied tickets. Ishrat Jahan, Urdu Media Coordinator for the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC), did not get the ticket from Ghondli ward while Zakir Khan, who was looking to contest from Babarpur Janta Colony, did not make it to the party’s list.

The Congress has fielded seven Muslim candidates from wards like Sadar Bazaar, Daryanganj, Quresh Nagar, Kardampuri, Kishankunj, Abul Fazal Enclave. Yasmeen Kidwai, niece of Farhad Suri who was the Leader of opposition in South Delhi Municipal Corporation, has been given a ticket.

Mukesh Goel, leader of opposition in North Delhi Municipal Corporation has been given ticket from Sarai Peepal Than ward. Earlier, he represented the Dhirpur ward.