The tension between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Delhi Lieutenant Governor's office intensified recently, following an order by Lt Governor VK Saxena. The directive instructed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to conduct elections for a Standing Committee member on September 27, but the move has sparked backlash from AAP, with Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi calling the order "illegal and unconstitutional."
Mayor Shelly Oberoi expressed her disapproval of the order, stating that the Lt Governor does not possess the authority to interfere in the functioning of the House. According to her, the directive issued by the MCD Commissioner under the LG’s orders undermines the constitutional framework.
She explained that the House was adjourned until October 5 due to repeated disruptions caused by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillors. The adjournment, she argued, legally prevents the election from taking place before that date.
In her statement, Oberoi questioned the BJP’s intentions behind trying to rush the election process. She voiced concerns over the potential motives and implications of conducting the election on the suggested date, further criticising the political tactics being employed.
Oberoi emphasised that the decision to hold elections on October 5 was based on valid legal grounds, and any attempt to bypass this would violate the due process.
The controversy gained further momentum when senior AAP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia weighed in. Sisodia raised additional concerns regarding the role of Lt Governor VK Saxena in the election timeline.
He pointed out that the order to conduct the election was issued late in the night, with BJP councillors staying overnight at the MCD headquarters, while AAP and Congress councillors were notably absent. Sisodia accused the BJP of attempting to manipulate the electoral process by taking advantage of the absence of opposition councillors.
Drawing a comparison, Sisodia referenced the Chandigarh mayoral elections, where a similar scenario unfolded. He alleged that MCD Commissioner Ashwini Kumar was replicating tactics used in the Chandigarh election, calling into question the fairness and transparency of the process.
According to Sisodia, the additional commissioner’s involvement in the upcoming election only raises more suspicions about the intent behind the expedited order.
The MCD Commissioner, Ashwani Kumar, had issued an official order on Thursday, instructing that the election for a vacant Standing Committee position be conducted on September 27 at 1 pm.
This order followed the postponement of an election originally scheduled for September 26. The election was deferred after Mayor Oberoi adjourned the meeting, citing concerns over councillors being allowed to carry mobile phones inside the polling booth. This decision was met with resistance from BJP councillors, who saw it as a tactic to delay the election.
Mayor Oberoi’s opposition to the election order, however, is rooted in broader concerns over the autonomy of the MCD. She and her party argue that the LG’s actions overstep his constitutional powers, intruding on the independence of the elected representatives in the municipal body.
The conflict between the LG’s office and AAP, which governs Delhi, has been ongoing, with both sides accusing the other of overreach and politicisation of governance structures.
In the wake of the order, AAP leaders continue to challenge the legality of the Lt Governor’s directive, while the BJP maintains its stance that the elections should proceed as scheduled.
The clash reflects the deeper political rivalry between the two parties, with the MCD serving as one of the key battlegrounds in the broader contest for influence in the capital.
As the dispute intensifies, it remains to be seen whether the election will indeed take place as per the LG’s directive or if the legal and political challenges posed by AAP will lead to further delays.
The outcome of this controversy could have lasting implications for the functioning of the MCD and the balance of power between Delhi’s elected government and the Lt Governor’s office.
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