Can’t be mute spectator while constitution being violated: Atishi Marlena

Launching a scathing attack on the BJP for trying to take over MCD by “backdoor” means, AAP MLA Atishi Marlena on  Friday said that her party had no option but to protest against the Opposition’s unfair tactics inside the House.

“This is part of Operation Lotus. BJP has tried every trick in the book to stop us from winning MCD polls. Now they have failed to even buy our councillors, so they are resorting to such unconstitutional methods,” she said while speaking to The New Indian.
The day of mayoral election at the MCD house saw high-voltage drama with blows being exchanged between BJP and AAP. Many members suffered injuries including AAP’s Praveen Kumar, a second-time councillor.

“12-15 of our members have been injured. Certainly we want the House to function. But we can’t be mute spectators when the constitution is trashed and violated,” Marlena said.

Earlier in the day, AAP and BJP councillors clashed over the appointment of 10 aldermen by LG VK Saxena on the very first day of meeting of the newly elected Municipal Corporation of Delhi House on Friday.

Also read: MCD House ruckus: There was a message from LG’s office… reveals Saurabh Bharadwaj

The meeting began with BJP councillor Satya Sharma being administered the oath as presiding officer for the elections to the posts of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) mayor and deputy mayor.

After Sharma invited alderman Manoj Kumar to take his oath, AAP MLAs and councillors began to protest and shout slogans, rushing to the Well of the House.

AAP protested on several counts. First, AAP claims that the Presiding Officer was supposed to be that of AAP and not BJP. Second, Nominated Aldermen were to be appointed by the Delhi government and not the LG, and finally, nominated councillors are not supposed to cast votes.

While addressing a press briefing, AAP Councillor from Ward 17 S Janak Puri Parveen Kumar accused the BJP members of tearing his clothes. “Nominated Aldermen have never been sworn in before in the history of MCD.When I objected, they started fighting, 25-30 BJP councilors attacked me. They tore my clothes. This is hooliganism,” he said.

The AAP won 134 wards in the MCD polls and ended the BJP’s 15-year rule in the civic body. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 104 wards, while the Congress won nine seats in the 250-member municipal House. The House was scheduled to convene on January 6 for the first time after the 2022 civic polls.