MCG elections biggest challenge for new chief

GURGAON: New roles pose new challenges this adage stands true for the newly appointed municipal commissioner Sudhir Rajpal. The IIM-A graduate and 1990 Haryana cadre IAS officer is, however, not new to the challenges that Gurgaon poses.
His biggest challenge is going to be the upcoming municipal elections. Its been over two years since the corporation was formed but the elections are yet to take place.His job is likely to be more demanding, particularly because of the fact that the DC is a new appointee. The DC would be in-charge of preparing the voter list and conducting the elections.
Rajpal is not new to the Millennium City. He was in the thick of action nearly six years ago as deputy commissioner during the violent clashes between the police and the striking Honda workers. While many at that point of time thought that his stint in Gurgaon was over, few would have imagined that he would comeback as commissioner.
The city has changed quite rapidly from then. With the residents and NGOs getting restless over the slow pace of developmental work, the new leadership will have to take everyone along. It would also be interesting to see how Rajpal takes forward the initiatives of his predecessor Rajesh Khullar.
The later had a distinct reputation of involving NGO's and residents in civic projects. Khullar also constituted a citizens supervisory committee, whose approval is needed before making payment to any contractor.
Some of the residents, who are members of the committee, said that they would expect similar cooperation from the new MCG commissioner. "Rajpal has a clean image and is known as a hardworking officer. Khullar was an inclusive leader. If the new commissioner is passionate about the city, it's going to be a win-win situation for him and the residents. Most of the residents here are educated professionals. We are all willing to contribute for a better Gurgaon, said Atal Kapoor, main architect of the Biodiversity Park.
There are, however, others who see this change as an opportunity. Some of the residents even blame Khullar for the delay in municipal elections. Khullar was a one-man show. He had unrealistic targets and made tall claims, but never delivered. For example, he said that he would start the process of handing over the sanitation work on important roads to contractors within four days but things are moving at a snail's pace, said an official who didnt wanted to be quoted.
While the highly placed sources say that Rajpal enjoys trust of Haryana's top leadership, his new job is certainly going to keep him on his toes.
While Rajpal is currently working as the managing director of Dakshin Haryana Vijli Vitaran Nigam, new deputy commissioner Phool Chand Meena comes from Rohtak, chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda's district, where he is both the commissioner and DC of the local municipal corporation.