After yet another failed attempt to elect the mayor of Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying that they had planned not to let the mayoral election happen.
The mayoral elections of the Delhi civic body, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), were postponed for the third time following a ruckus inside the house on February 6.
After the adjournment, AAP blamed the BJP for intentionally delaying the process.
“We were told in the morning itself that the BJP would create a ruckus and the Presiding Officer of the BJP would postpone the election, and that is exactly what happened. BJP had already planned not to hold the mayoral election, which is why BJP MPs Manoj Tiwari, Hansraj Hans, Ramesh Bidhuri and Gautam Gambhir did not turn up to vote,” AAP leader Atishi said.
Blaming the BJP for strangling democracy and disrespecting the constitution, AAP MP Sanjay Singh said, “BJP is strangling democracy and disrespecting the constitution by not allowing the election of the mayor, deputy mayor, and members of the standing committee to be held.”
“The Presiding Officer violated the Constitution and the DMC Act by trying to hold elections for the mayor, deputy mayor, and standing committee together while allowing aldermen to vote,” Singh said.
Singh said AAP will go to court regarding the mayoral election and he has full hope that his party will get justice from the court.
“Today you have once again witnessed how the BJP made a mockery of the Constitution of India as well as the DMC Act and did not let the elections for the post of mayor take place in the MCD. They did not let the election take place today because they were aware that the AAP has 151 votes in its favour while the BJP just has 105 votes,” Singh said.
“The Presiding Officer, who is only in charge of conducting elections for the post of Mayor, said that Aldermen are also allowed to vote in the election,” he added.
Singh said the Constitution clearly states that the nominated councillors are not allowed to vote, this is clearly stated under Article 243R. It is also there under Section 3 of the DMC Act.
“The Presiding Officer also wanted all three elections – for the post of mayor, deputy mayor, and members of the standing committee — to be held together, which is once again against the law,” he added.
BJP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj said, “Voting rights of MLAs named by the assembly are being cancelled, saying that there are cases against them. The BJP has dishonestly occupied MCD for the past year and intends to do so again in the coming term. Now we will take this fight to the streets, parliament and courts and provide justice to the people of Delhi.”
AAP’s MCD In-charge Durgesh Pathak said, “BJP councillors have looted MCD, now they are afraid that if AAP comes to MCD, we will send them to jail. The BJP has nominated its own people as presiding officer and aldermen, still, they are creating a ruckus and do not have the courage to let elections be held.”