Civic polls: Many councillors lose seats post delimitation

Wards of many senior councillors in the three municipal corporations in Delhi have come under the reserved categories after delimitation, upstaging their plans to contest the civic body polls from their home turf.
Malviya Nagar ward in South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), represented by former Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay, has been reserved for women candidates.
Similarly, chairman of SDMC Standing Committee Shailender Singh's Safdarjung Enclave ward has been reserved for women.
"I have been a councillor for 10 years and I am focussing on completing work at hand instead of thinking about polls," Singh said when asked whether he would contest from a different ward.

Leader of Opposition in SDMC and Congress councillor Farhad Suri's Nijamuddin area has been merged with other wards post delimitation which was carried out in January.
"I was thinking of contesting from either Daryaganj or Siddharth Nagar but they have been reserved for women and SC candidates, respectively. I am, however, prepared to accept whatever the party decides," Suri said.

In North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), Karol Bagh ward represented by former mayor Ravinder Gupta has been reserved for SC category. Gupta has recently been appointed as Delhi BJP general secretary.
Former Deputy Chairman of NDMC standing Committee Veerendra Babbar's Pharganj ward has been reserved for women. Similarly, former Leader of NDMC, Yogender Chandolia's ward Devnagar has been reserved for women belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC).

Election to three municipal corporations in Delhi, controlled by BJP, is likely to be held in April.