In a recent development, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has intervened in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) ward committee elections by appointing presiding officers, a move that has sparked controversy. This decision comes amidst disagreements over the election process and timing.
On Tuesday, Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi had expressed strong discontent with the one-day notice provided for nominations. She argued that the rushed timeline was unreasonable and called for the process to be restarted with a more appropriate notice period of at least one week. According to Oberoi, the election process, as it stood, was unfair and undemocratic.
The Lieutenant Governor's intervention came after a series of events that highlighted the escalating tensions over the election arrangements. V K Saxena, utilising special powers granted under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, directed the MCD commissioner to appoint presiding officers for the upcoming ward committee elections scheduled for Wednesday.
This decision followed an expansion of the Lt Governor’s powers by the central government, which now allows him to constitute various boards and authorities that were previously under the President's jurisdiction.
In a letter, the Lt Governor stated that after waiting for a decision from the Mayor until 8:00 pm on Tuesday, he was compelled to act due to the urgency of the situation.
The MCD Commissioner subsequently issued an order appointing deputy commissioners as presiding officers for the polls, based on the Lt Governor’s directive.
This move has added another layer of complexity to the election process, raising questions about the procedural fairness and the broader implications of the Lt Governor's increased powers. The situation reflects ongoing tensions between different governance authorities in Delhi and underscores the challenges involved in managing local elections amid competing interests and administrative decisions.
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