The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a petition filed by Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) mayoral candidate Shelly Oberoi on Friday demanding timely election of mayor and deputy mayor in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and comprising Justice Dipankar Datta took note of the submissions of senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for Oberoi, on early holding of the mayoral poll for MCD.
Why the election was delayed?
The petition demands the election to be held in a time-bound manner as it has been delayed for over a month despite AAP securing a majority in the MCD polls declared on December 7.
Advertisement
It has also urged the top court to not allow the 10 nominated members in the House to cast vote.
Following the adjournment of the MCD House was adjourned indefinitely by the lieutenant governor-appointed presiding officer, following a ruckus created by AAP and BJP councillors, the mayoral election in the national capital was stalled on January 6 and 24.
The mayoral election is the first item on the agenda for the municipal House slated to be held on February 6 in Delhi. As per the agenda of the MCD, it will be followed by the election of the deputy mayor and six members of the standing committee of the MCD.
Advertisement
Lt Governor V K Saxena has approved convening of an MCD House to elect the mayor on February 6, Raj Niwas officials told PTI.
"The agenda for the House says that the election to pick the mayor of Delhi will be held first, followed by that of the deputy mayor and six members of the standing committee,” a source told PTI.
On January 6, when the MCD assembled for the first time, the elections to the posts of Mayor, deputy mayor and Standing Committee members could not be held due to a ruckus over the presiding officer, allowing the nominated members to take the oath ahead of the elected councillors. The House met for a second time on January 24, but again the elections could not be held.
The AAP won 134 of the 250 wards in the MCD polls held in December. The BJP managed to win 104 wards.The BJP is apprehensive that the AAP may create a ruckus in the election of the six members of the Standing Committee.
According to sources, AAP feels that the BJP can manipulate the standing committee elections, so there will be chances of an uproar again in the House.
AAP national spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj has accused the BJP of hooliganism and halting the MCD proceedings and said that Leader of the House Mukesh Goel and Oberoi have approached the top court for directions to ensure that the mayoral election is conducted in a time-bound manner. Bharadwaj had said the party had also sought a prohibition on the aldermen casting their votes.
Advertisement
(With PTI inputs)
