Delhi Civic Body Polls For Standing Committee Seat To Be Held Today Amid AAP Vs Lt Governor Standoff

The ongoing tussle between the Delhi Lieutenant Governor and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came to an abrupt halt on Thursday evening after the election for the last member of the Standing Committee of the civic body was called off.

The postponement of the election was followed by a day-long gridlock, despite an eight-hour stand-off on the House floor, three adjournments, protests, and the intervention of VK Saxena, who insisted it be held by 10 pm. Later, the officials from the Raj Bhavan announced that the fresh date for polls is Friday at 1 pm.

Referring to the Lieutenant Governor’s message that the election has to be held by 10 pm, AAP leader Manish Sisodia said, “How can elections be held without councillors? AAP and Congress councillors have gone home”. He added that “Elections on one hour’s notice is unconstitutional”.

The election for the standing committee of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was postponed on Thursday as the house meeting was adjourned, following a protest by AAP councillors against the decision to ban mobile phones in the house. Mayor Shelly Oberoi postponed the election and adjourned the house till October 5.

LG VK Saxena Overturns Decision

Lieutenant-Governor VK Saxena, however, intervened and overturned the poll postponement decision and directed MCD Commissioner Ashwani Kumar to submit a report about the conduct of the election by 10:00 pm on September 26.

He also ordered the Deputy Mayor be made the presiding officer for the poll if the Mayor refuses to hold it. In case the Deputy Mayor also refuses, the senior-most member of the House will preside over the election, he ordered.

The order read, “Whereas, the Lt Governor, while passing the directions for conducting the election, also directed that if Mayor is not available or refuses to preside over the meeting, the Dy Mayor may be requested to do the same and if both are unwilling or unavailable, the senior most member in order of seniority may be requested to discharge the function,” the order further said.

Uncertainty loomed large till late evening. Around 11 pm, the MCD officials confirmed that the election was postponed again for Friday.