New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Atishi criticized the recent MCD standing committee elections, held on Friday, labeling them as "illegal, unconstitutional, and undemocratic." During a press conference, Atishi referenced the Municipal Corporation Act of 1957, emphasizing that only the mayor holds the authority to call elections.
She highlighted, "The election conducted by the BJP is not just illegal but against the principles of our Constitution. Our country functions under the Constitution and the laws defined by it, including the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act of 1957, which outlines how the MCD should operate."
Atishi explained that the law clearly states the election must occur during a Corporation meeting, and the mayor alone can decide the time, place, and date of the meeting. She added that the act also specifies the mayor should preside over the meeting, or in their absence, the deputy mayor. "This is all clearly stated in the law, not by me. The BJP is disregarding the Constitution and democratic principles," Atishi said.
On Friday, BJP’s Sunder Singh won the election for the MCD standing committee, despite strong objections from AAP. The election was held under the supervision of Additional Commissioner Jitendra Yadav, who served as the Presiding Officer in the absence of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, a move criticized by AAP, which did not participate in the election.
Atishi further stated that neither the Lieutenant Governor (LG) nor the commissioner has the power to call an election. She accused the BJP of bypassing legal procedures, saying, "Despite the lack of authority, the LG issued an order, and the commissioner followed it. This is just another instance of the BJP's attempts to manipulate governance when they don't win elections."
She alleged that from 2014 to 2024, wherever BJP lost elections, they resorted to tactics like "Operation Lotus," coercing MLAs and leaders through agencies like the CBI and ED to form governments, mentioning states like Maharashtra, Goa, and Manipur as examples.
Atishi vowed that AAP would challenge the standing committee elections in the Supreme Court. "We will move to the Supreme Court because the election conducted by the BJP is entirely illegal. The Delhi Municipal Corporation Act explicitly states that the mayor holds the power to call and preside over meetings. This unconstitutional election will be contested in court," she said.
Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi also expressed concerns about the commissioner’s order, calling the standing committee election "illegal and unconstitutional." She criticized BJP's interference, noting past instances where BJP allegedly tried to influence mayoral elections, including in Chandigarh.
Atishi issued a challenge to the BJP, urging them to dissolve the current standing committee and hold fresh elections. "Democracy operates on laws and the will of the people, not on manipulation. If BJP has the courage, let them face AAP in a fair election and let the people of Delhi decide," she said.
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