Delhi’s MCD Election Dispute: Mayor Shelly Oberoi vs. LG VK Saxena

New Delhi, September 27: Despite strong objections from the Aam Admi Party (AAP), the election for the lone vacancy in the Standing Committee of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is underway at the MCD House in Delhi. The polling is being held in the presence of Additional Commissioner Jitendra Yadav, who has been made the Presiding Officer in the absence of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. AAP is not participating in the elections.

Mayor’s Concerns

Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi had directed the MCD Commissioner to proceed with the election for the sixth member of the Standing Committee on October 5. She expressed concern about the recent order issued by the MCD Commissioner, stating that the scheduled election of the Standing Committee member at 1 pm is considered illegal and unconstitutional. She emphasized that the Lieutenant Governor (LG) should not have the power to interfere in the functioning of the House.

“Following this, I was forced to adjourn the House till October 5. Legally the election can be held only on October 5. A letter has been sent to the MCD Commissioner, and it has been told to him that the notice issued yesterday is illegal. What are the BJP’s intentions that it wants to conduct the election this way?” she added.

Reactions from AAP Leaders

Manish Sisodia, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, addressed a press briefing and criticized LG VK Saxena’s directive to hold the election for the lone vacancy in the Standing Committee of the MCD. “Yesterday, the Mayor (Shelly Oberoi) kept trying to conduct an election for the seat of the Standing Committee of Nagar Nigam, but it could not be done. Then, using her power, she set another date for elections and assembly of the House. Later in the day, LG passed an order to the MCD Commissioner to hold elections by 10 pm last night. The whole night the BJP councillors were present there, while AAP and Congress councillors were absent,” Manish Sisodia said.

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also raised strong objections to Delhi’s LG VK Saxena’s order. Kejriwal argued that the MCD laws clearly state that the authority to convene a session lies solely with the Mayor, and neither the LG nor the Commissioner can do so. “I am surprised that the MCD has clearly stated in the law that only the Mayor has the right to call the corporation’s sitting. No one else has the right. LG Sir cannot call it. The Commissioner cannot call it. Only the Mayor can call it,” he said.

Commissioner’s Order

On Thursday, MCD Commissioner Ashwani Kumar had issued the order for conducting the election on September 27 at 1 pm. The order of the MCD said that the election for the lone vacancy in the Standing Committee by the Corporation was scheduled for September 26 at 2:00 pm; however, the said election was not conducted, and the meeting was adjourned to October 5 by Mayor Shelly Oberoi on the grounds that the councillors be allowed to carry mobile phones inside the voting hall/polling booth.