Delhi Municipal Corporation Mayor Shaili Oberoi has refused to appoint a presiding officer. In such a situation, the suspense over the ward committee elections to be held on Wednesday has increased and there are chances of these elections being postponed.
Reacting to this, the Mayor has said that his conscience does not allow him to participate in the undemocratic election process. He has also directed Corporation Commissioner Ashwini Kumar to restart the election process by giving at least one week’s notice for filing nominations.
‘Can’t give just one day for nomination’
In a note written to the MCD Commissioner, the Delhi Mayor said- I have received many memorandums from councillors who have not been able to file nominations due to only one day’s notice. It is necessary to give sufficient time for nomination to maintain the fairness of the democratic process. After my instructions, it took five days for the Municipal Corporation Secretary to give the notification of the election, so how can only one day be given to file nominations.
Oberoi said that in the history of MCD, such a short time has never been given for filing nominations.
Leader of Opposition said- AAP has accepted defeat
On this issue, the leader of opposition in Delhi Municipal Corporation, Sardar Raja Iqbal Singh has said that by not appointing a presiding officer in the Municipal Corporation Ward Committee elections, Mayor Dr. Shaili Oberoi and Aam Aadmi Party have accepted defeat not only in the ward committees but also in the standing committee elections. The leader of opposition has said that Aam Aadmi Party has wasted two years of the Municipal Corporation, development work in the wards has come to a standstill. Such is the situation that the Municipal Corporation Commissioner will have to ensure compliance with the constitutional provisions.
BJP said- Mayor murdered democracy
Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor targeted the mayor on the issue of nominating presiding officers for the corporation’s ward committees and made allegations. He said that Mayor Dr. Shelly Oberoi has murdered democracy by refusing to appoint presiding officers for the MCD ward committee elections.
He called for the sacking of Shelly Oberoi, saying she has lost all constitutional and moral rights to continue as mayor and has pushed the MCD to the brink of a possible dissolution.