With just over a week to go for the Assembly elections in Delhi, first-time contestants from the Bahujan Samaj Party have alleged they have been facing problems holding rallies and functions in the Capital because of the lack of coordination between the police and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Senior leaders have also alleged “political interference” as a reason for such incidents.

While police officials say they have instructions to ask for a certificate from the MCD, the MCD officials claimed they have no role to play in such matters. “It is the responsibility of the police to make arrangements. Our election officer has received no such instructions from the Election Commission,” said Deep Mathur, chief spokesperson of the MCD.

Mushtaq Khan, BSP contestant from Chandni Chowk, alleged he was denied permission from both the police and the MCD. Leaders say some other contestants have also faced such problems off late. “The police asked us to get permission from MCD officials while the MCD officials said they do not have any instructions for allotting permission,” Khan said.

Sources in the police said they have got instructions from the Election Commission regarding the rallies recently. “After a few incidents of misuse of public property and inconvenience to the people in the Capital, we have been told to seek permission from the land-owning authority,” an official of the Civil Lines police station said. However, BSP workers say they had taken a no-objection-certificate from the ACP of North District. Sagarpreet Hudda, Deputy Commissioner of Police, north zone, said, “Any permission granted is subject to conditions and changes. The permission from the land-owning authority has to be produced.”

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