(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The election of the Central Municipal Council (CMC) in May next year is expected to witness keen contests in some constituencies following the recent re-demarcation.
The 29 constituencies were re-demarcated by authorities after large-scale demolitions in some areas, particularly in the city and its suburbs, prompted many Qatari families to shift to the outskirts.
The lopsidedness was such that some constituencies had 3,000 to 4,000 voters while others had about 200 to 800 voters. This called for their re-demarcation.
Following re-demarcation, some areas of a particular constituency have been included in other constituencies while some constituencies have been merged with others.
For example, Al Markhiya has been cancelled as an independent constituency while South and North Maither constituencies have been unified into one.
The re-demarcation has changed the equation so much so that if some sitting councillors and former CMC members decide to contest again, there would be keen fight among stalwarts in several constituencies, the local Arabic daily Al Raya reported yesterday.
The 29-member CMC, which has a four-year term, was first elected in early 1999. The May 2015 election is for its fifth term.
Due to re-demarcation, Jassem Al Malki, Vice-Chairman, CMC, may come face-to-face with a colleague Dr Mohamed Jassim Al Muslemani in constituency No. 1.
Al Muslemani was elected from Al Markhiya which has been merged with constituency No. 1, which includes Doha Jadeeda, represented by Al Malki in the council. Other stalwarts who may seek re-election from this new constituency are Ibrahim Al Ibrahim, a former councillor, and Ali Lahdan, who lost in the last poll.
In constituency No. 8, for instance, the lone woman councillor and a veteran, Sheikha Al Jefairi, might be challenged by Meshal Al Dahnim, a sitting CMC member and a popular figure.
CMC Chairman, Saud Abdullah Al Hanzab, may not seek re-election but could be pitched against Mohamed Ali Al Athba if he decides to join the fray.
Al Hanzab represents North Maither and Al Athba is from South Maither. Both constituencies have been merged. Such examples are galore, Al Raya said.
Meanwhile, Qatar News Agency quoted the chairman of the Supervisory Committee of the CMC election as asking eligible Qataris to register in the voter list. Registration can be done through Metrash2 or by showing up in their constituencies on January 11, said Brigadier Majid Ibrahim Al Khulaifi.
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