New Delhi: For the third time in a month, the Delhi municipal House failed to elect a mayor after it was adjourned following a ruckus that erupted over the nominated members on Monday. Soon after the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) House assembled around 11:30 am, after a delay of half an hour, Presiding Officer Satya Sharma announced that aldermen will be allowed to vote in elections to the posts of mayor, deputy mayor and Standing Committee members which will be held simultaneously.
The announcement drew protests from AAP councillors. Party leader Mukesh Goel said aldermen can't vote. To this, Sharma said, "People have sent you here to serve them, let the election be held." Following this, the House was adjourned briefly. This is the third session of the House after the December 4 municipal polls.
Also read: AAP holds 'padyatras' in all Delhi assembly constituencies against BJP for delaying MCD mayor polls
The first two sessions -- held on January 6 and January 24 -- were adjourned by the presiding officer without electing a mayor following a ruckus and acrimonious exchanges between the members of the BJP and the AAP. This drew protests from AAP councillors. Party leader Mukesh Goel said aldermen can't vote. After emerging from the House, AAP leader Atishi told reporters, "We will go to the Supreme Court, and we will go today itself so that the mayoral elections can be held in a court-monitored manner."
Following it, AAP leader Atishi said the party will move the Supreme Court so that the polls can be held in a "court-monitored manner". According to the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act, 1957, the mayor and the deputy mayor are to be elected in the very first session of the House after the civic polls. However, it's been two months since the municipal elections were held and Delhi is yet to get a mayor.
The AAP had earlier objected to Lt Governor V K Saxena nominating 10 aldermen to the MCD house without consulting the city government. On Sunday, AAP councillors wrote to Sharma seeking debarment of the aldermen from voting in the election of mayor, deputy mayor and Standing Committee, saying that if it happens, it will be an insult to the people of Delhi. They said the nominated members cannot vote in accordance with the Constitution and the DMC Act.
