Delhi mayor elections stalled for 2nd time following AAP-BJP clash
The Delhi mayoral polls have been stalled once again—the second time in three weeks—after a fresh fight broke out between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councilors on Tuesday. Amid the face-off, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) House was adjourned indefinitely. Earlier, on January 6, too, the election was canceled, and the House was adjourned as both parties clashed.
Why does this story matter?
- The Municipal Corporation of Delhi was to elect Delhi's next mayor and deputy mayor on Tuesday. However, it has now been postponed until further notice due to the AAP-BJP scuffle.
- To recall, on January 6, the AAP protested over BJP councilor-presiding officer Satya Sharma's decision to administer the oath to 10 aldermen first. It earlier expressed reservations over Sharma's appointment as presiding officer, too.
Ruckus by councilors forced adjournment of session
According to NDTV, the mayoral election was called off on Tuesday due to a scuffle during the MCD House session between councilors from both parties. AAP councilors launched a loud protest, similar to what happened during the first meeting. They alleged the BJP was attempting to seize control of the MCD despite losing the polls, to which BJP members reacted sharply, causing mayhem.
AAP objects as presiding officer administers oath to nominated councilors
Earlier on Tuesday, as the 250-member House convened to elect the mayor, deputy mayor, and six standing committee members, security in and around the Civic Centre was beefed up to avoid untoward incidents. The session reportedly started with the oath-taking of nominated members. AAP members raised "shame shame" chants, objecting to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena-nominated members being administered oaths first instead of elected councilors.
AAP leader's video of paramilitary allegedly deployed on House premises
क्या सदन के अंदर इस तरह की फ़ोर्स लाठी डंडे लेकर, हेलमेट पहनकर घुस सकती है ? pic.twitter.com/ZdbBMU5Uss
— Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) January 24, 2023
Rotational tenures of Delhi's mayor
Notably, the Delhi mayor post sees five single-year terms on a rotation basis. The first year is reserved for women, followed by the open category, the reserved category, and the open category again for the remaining terms. So, Delhi will get a woman mayor this year selected by the 250 councilors, 10 MPs from Delhi, and 14 MLAs nominated by the Legislative Assembly.
Who are AAP, BJP mayor, deputy mayor candidates?
For the MCD election, there are three nominees for the mayor's post. The AAP has nominated Shelly Oberoi and Ashu Thakur (backup candidate) to run against the BJP's Rekha Gupta. Reportedly, Oberoi is the AAP's main contender for the post. Meanwhile, the nominees for the deputy mayor's post are Aaley Mohammad Iqbal and Jalaj Kumar from the AAP and Kamal Bagri from the BJP.
Historic win for AAP in 2022 MCD polls
The Delhi mayoral election is taking place nearly two months after the 2022 MCD polls, which saw the AAP end the BJP's 15-year reign in the civic body. In the December 4 MCD polls, the AAP won 134 seats, while the saffron brigade bagged 104 wards to finish second. On the other hand, the Congress bagged just nine seats in the 250-member municipal body.
