New Delhi, Sept 26, 2024 – In a significant move, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has ordered the Municipal Commissioner to conduct the much-awaited election for the final vacant seat of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) standing committee on Friday, September 27. This comes after high drama on Thursday when Mayor Shelly Oberoi postponed the election until October 5, citing security concerns and opposition to frisking measures imposed on councillors.
The election, now scheduled for 1 pm on Friday, will be overseen by Additional Commissioner Jitender Yadav, who has been appointed as the presiding officer. This decision follows mounting pressure to fill the standing committee’s 18th seat, which has been vacant for months after BJP councillor Kamaljeet Sehrawat resigned upon being elected as a parliamentarian from West Delhi.
Mayor Calls Election “Illegal,” LG Insists on Immediate Vote
Mayor Shelly Oberoi had earlier deemed any election before October 5 as “illegal and unconstitutional.” However, the Lieutenant Governor intervened, emphasizing that the standing committee is a critical body responsible for essential municipal functions, and its prolonged absence (21 months) has severely hampered decision-making in the MCD.
In a notice issued by MCD Commissioner Ashwani Kumar, it was clarified that holding the election is in the larger public interest. The election process will be video-recorded, and no mobile phones or electronic gadgets will be allowed inside the voting hall to maintain the secrecy of the ballot.
Tensions Flare: AAP vs BJP over Frisking and Voting Procedures
Thursday’s attempt to hold the election was marred by a heated standoff between the AAP and BJP councillors. The controversy erupted when the municipal secretariat issued a directive prohibiting the use of mobile phones in the voting chamber, with Delhi Police setting up frisking points to enforce the rule. While BJP councillors complied, AAP members staged a sit-in protest, arguing that the frisking process was “undignified” and violated their rights as elected representatives.
Mayor Oberoi stood firmly with her party, calling the frisking order an insult to the dignity of the councillors. “This is against democracy, and such a step has never been taken in the past,” she said during the protest, which stretched from the afternoon until late at night.
Political Fallout: BJP Slams AAP for Delaying Tactics
The delay in holding the election drew sharp criticism from the BJP, which accused AAP of stalling the process due to internal instability and fears that its own councillors might defect. BJP Delhi chief Virendra Sachdeva criticized AAP’s leadership, alleging that the party was avoiding the election to prevent losing further ground.
“The anti-incumbency against Arvind Kejriwal is at its peak, and the AAP is scared that its own councillors will desert the party. We will file a contempt petition against the mayor in court on Friday,” said Sachdeva.
With the BJP currently holding nine seats and the AAP having eight, the 18th seat will be a crucial tie-breaker in the standing committee, which is responsible for key financial and administrative decisions within the MCD.
As both parties gear up for Friday’s election, the situation remains tense, with high stakes for both the ruling AAP and opposition BJP in the ongoing power struggle within the MCD.
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