At the Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) on Friday, a ruckus and sloganeering between BJP and AAP councilors took center stage. Amidst the uproar, a unique scene unfolded. After the proceedings of the first MCD house meeting set for April were adjourned, the BJP councilors were spotted gleefully dancing and swaying to Haryanvi tracks. The Aam Aadmi Party has raised questions over this behavior. Originally, the elections for Mayor and Deputy Mayor were scheduled for today, April 26, but were stalled due to the absence of an appointed presiding officer.
Despite the elections not taking place, the municipality's meeting commenced as per rules. During the meet, both AAP and BJP councilors continued their protest inside the house over the stalling of the Mayor's election. The Mayor did arrive during the session but the commotion persisted and the Mayor adjourned the proceedings till the next date.
Female Councilor Waves Saffron Scarf
In the midst of the chaos, following the Mayor's departure from the house, several BJP councilors were seen dancing to a Bluetooth speaker blasting Haryanvi songs. The song lyrics, expressing a desire to see 'Modiji's government again... this time crossing 400 seats', stirred not only the male BJP councilors to dance but also female councilors waving saffron scarves.
Mayor Shelly Oberoi Takes Aim
The AAP is now using videos of the BJP councilors dancing in the MCD house to stage a political attack. Mayor Shelly Oberoi criticized on social media stating, 'Look at the BJP councilors dancing. After usurping the rights of a Dalit's son, BJP councilors are celebrating. If Baba Saheb Ambedkar were here today, he would not have let this injustice stand.'
AAP Leader Strikes Back
At the same time, Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj fired back on the social media platform X, remarking, 'Notice how BJP councilors are dancing in joy. The Mayor's elections have been cancelled. AAP is protesting and BJP is rejoicing. The question arises, why are they happy?'
Reason for the Postponed Delhi Mayor Election
The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, VK Saxena informed the Chief Secretary that appointment of a presiding officer is mandated by the GNCTD Act to conduct elections. Normally, a proposal from the Chief Minister is required for the LG to take a decision on the presiding officer's name. With the current Chief Minister in judicial custody, it's legally not possible to proceed with the mayoral elections. It is unprecedented to appoint a presiding officer without the Chief Minister's proposal among 250 councilors, given that the Chief Minister is presently in jail. Therefore, using his administrative authority, the LG has ordered the current Mayor and Deputy Mayor to continue in their roles for the time being.
Aam Aadmi Party's Assault on BJP
Saurabh Bhardwaj, Minister of Urban Development in the AAP government, accused the BJP-led central government appointed Lieutenant Governor of Delhi of trying to break decades-old constitutional traditions. He expressed his deep disappointment by stating that the process of appointing a presiding officer, which traditionally begins with a file from the Chief Secretary to the Urban Development Minister, and then onto the Chief Minister's office before reaching the Lieutenant Governor, was bypassed, and the file was directly sent to the LG without the Urban Development Minister's consent. Bhardwaj challenged the central government and the LG by asking what kind of subterfuge was occurring behind the scenes.
