New Delhi: The Union Cabinet approved a bill on Tuesday to unite Delhi's three municipal corporations, escalating the ongoing power struggle between the BJP and the AAP ahead of the high-stakes civic elections.

As per union government sources, the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill is scheduled to be introduced during the ongoing Budget session of Parliament. The amendment establishes an united municipal corporation of Delhi, which will consolidate the three current corporations where the BJP has been in power since 2012. The BJP was also in control in the formerly unified MCD from 2007 to 2012.

The politically significant decision was termed by Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as "tactics" to delay city elections, but the party insisted that the merger will have no effect on its poll prospects, stating that Delhiites had already decided to eject the BJP from power in civic organisations. Leaders of the Delhi state BJP believed the merger would assist the party in attempting an image makeover and combating anti-incumbency ahead of the civic elections.

Union government sources said, the unified municipal corporation will be well-equipped to ensure efficient and equitable use of financial resources, thereby reducing mounting liabilities, operating expenses for the three municipal corporations, and improving civic services in the national capital.

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