MCD standing committee poll: Delhi CM Atishi says election ‘illegal’, BJP calls claims ridiculous

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva countered Atishi’s allegations, terming them ridiculous and “driven by governmental self-interest and aimed astatine spreading confusion”.

Atishi alleged, “Yesterday, the BJP held elections for the sixth subordinate of the MCD Standing Committee. These elections are illegal, unconstitutional and undemocratic.” She added that Regulation 51 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act (DMC) 1957, which is related to elections of the Standing Committee, states that the predetermination of the members of the Standing Committee volition beryllium held successful the gathering of the Corporation.

“The predetermination for the subordinate of the MCD Standing Committee yesterday is simply a usurpation of the Delhi Municipal Act of 1957. Under the rules, lone the Mayor tin find the day and spot for the predetermination of Standing Committee members and volition besides enactment arsenic the presiding officer,” she added.

Atishi further said Section 76 of the DMC Act besides states that whenever determination is simply a gathering of the Corporation, the Mayor volition preside implicit it and if the Mayor is absent, the Deputy Mayor volition preside implicit it.

“But the BJP is not bothered by the Constitution oregon rules and regulations. The BJP is not bothered by the ripping disconnected of democracy… L-G sahab gives the order, the commissioner obeys that order. He calls a gathering of the corp for elections, and alternatively of the elected politician and lawman mayor, helium makes an IAS serviceman the presiding officer,” she alleged.

“I privation to archer the BJP that this state does not tally with your ‘goondagardi’ (hooliganism). This state runs by the Constitution, by the law… if you person the courage, look the AAP successful the elections… dissolve the MCD and clasp elections and fto the information travel retired arsenic to who the radical of Delhi want,” she added.

Accusing her of seeking to dispersed disorder connected the matter, Sachdeva alleged Atishi’s statements were an effort to divert nationalist attraction from the AAP’s nonaccomplishment successful the Municipal Standing Committee elections and the “disunity among the party’s councillors”.

“Today, Ms. Atishi is citing the DMC Act. But wherever was she successful the past 22 months erstwhile her party’s obstinacy caused a implicit standstill successful the functioning of the MCD? The Standing Committee, considered the lifeline of the Corporation, was not formed… truthful were different law and ad-hoc committees, starring to a paralysis of astir corp activities,” Sachdeva said.

He asked Atishi to clarify whether the ongoing process for forming the Standing Committee was initiated by the Mayor oregon nether tribunal orders.

“Ms. Atishi should beryllium alert that her enactment did not adjacent privation the Standing Committee elections successful the archetypal place. The process is happening lone owed to the Supreme Court’s bid of August 5, 2024, and the unit from the Delhi High Court,” helium said.

“She should cognize that nether Section 45 of the aforesaid DMC Act, whose provisions she is present citing, the enactment of the Standing Committee is mandatory. Under Section 487, the Lieutenant Governor and the Municipal Commissioner person the authorization to convene a corp gathering nether peculiar circumstances and tin name a presiding serviceman for that meeting,” helium added.