New Delhi: Another dispute between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is headed for the Supreme Court.
Delhi mayor Shelly Oberoi on Sunday moved the top court, challenging the election of the sixth member of Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) standing committee.
Opposition BJP secured the final seat, but ruling party AAP boycotted the election held on Friday.
The mayor’s contention is that the election was unconstitutional and violated the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act and related rules.
Expressing concerns about the procedure used in the election, Oberoi has stated that it lacked legitimacy and fairness. The decision to appoint an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer as presiding officer of the election, rather than the mayor, has been highlighted in the petition.
Friday’s outcome shifted the 18-member panel’s balance of power BJP’s way, handing it command over the MCD’s budget.
This is the latest issue between AAP and BJP that the Supreme Court is dealing with. Matters ranging from control of bureaucrats to appointment of members to various bodies in the Capital are already being contested between the elected government and lieutenant governor V K Saxena.
AAP earlier described the MCD election process as a “murder of democracy,” accusing Lt Gov Saxena of influencing the decision to appoint the IAS officer.