Delhi Polls May Be Postponed

Aware of the growing resentment against the BJP government due to the water and power crisis in the Capital, there is a possibility that the government would not hold the scheduled elections to the Delhi assembly in November.

The assessment so far is that the ruling BJP is certain to lose the election given the strong sense of resentment among the people over this summer's water and power crisis. BJP circles allege that the Congress is behind this in an election year, since the party has a strong presence in unions in govermnent agencies like the Delhi Vidyut Board.

Since Delhi is not yet a full-fledged state, no major constitutional problem would arise if the election is postponed. Union minister for parliamentary affairs M L Khurana has said the bill granting full statehood to Delhi had been deferred due to differences on the new state's territorial jurisdiction.

When the term of the Delhi assembly expires later this year, government sources said the lieutenant governor could take over the administration as was the practice until some years ago. The BJP's hopes to `make suitable amends' in the interregnum before facing the electorate sometime in mid-1999.

Alongwith Delhi, assembly elections are scheduled in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram in November-December. And alongwith Delhi, BJP is reported to be on the backfoot in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan as well.