NEW DELHI: Former Delhi deputy CM and AAP leader Manish Sisodia launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP on Thursday, accusing them of “killing democracy” in the Delhi Municipal Corporation. Sisodia’s remarks came in response to an order from Delhi LG VK Saxena, directing the immediate completion of the election for the final member of the MCD Standing Committee by 10 pm.
“Tonight, on the orders of PM Narendra Modi, the BJP is killing democracy in the Delhi Municipal Corporation,” said Sisodia. He alleged that the BJP had prior knowledge of the LG’s directive and had strategically kept its councillors in the MCD House while AAP and Congress members were absent.
Sisodia also criticised the sudden nature of the directive, stating that Mayor Shelly Oberoi had already adjourned the House until October 5 due to chaos during the election process. “The Mayor adjourned the House till October 5, but at 8:30 pm, the Delhi LG, from America, wrote a letter to the MCD Commissioner, demanding the election be completed by 10 pm,” he added.
Meanwhile, Delhi LG VK Saxena had instructed MCD Commissioner Ashwani Kumar to ensure that the election for the 18th Standing Committee member was completed by 10 pm. The directive also stated that in the Mayor’s absence, the Deputy Mayor or the senior-most councillor should preside over the meeting.
However, MCD at 10:20 pm stated that “the standing committee election for sixth member will not be held today (Thursday). The date and time of the election will be intimated later.”
The controversy erupted earlier in the day over the ban on mobile phones in the MCD House, which sparked protests from AAP councillors. The phone ban, implemented to ensure the secrecy of voting, led to a heated confrontation between AAP councillors and the police, with AAP members refusing to enter the House unless allowed to bring in their phones.
Meanwhile, Delhi BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva on postponing the MCD Standing Committee election, said, ” AAP, Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia are murdering the democracy…you won the election and formed the govt, you have the majority still you are not letting the MCD elections take place…this year a Dalit mayor is supposed to be elected and they are trying to take away the right of Dalit…why are you running away from elections?…they don’t trust their own councillors.”
Union Minister Harsh Malhotra also said that, “They themselves postponed the election…Manish Sisodia is right, democracy is being murdered but he is not saying the fact that Mayor herself has murdered the democracy by stopping the election…against whom will they move legally? Mayor?”
MCD Mayor Shelly Oberoi, who had initially entered the House at 2:25 pm, expressed frustration with the situation and adjourned the meeting three times. She cited the insult to councillors and lack of cooperation from officials as the reasons for postponing the session until October 5.
“The councillors have been insulted and nowhere in the country are corporators treated like this in any municipality. I must say there is pressure on the officials as well,” Oberoi stated, before postponing the meeting.
Outside the MCD House, AAP councillors staged a protest, accusing the BJP and Municipal Commissioner of acting under pressure. Meanwhile, BJP councillors, having completed security checks, were present in the House on time and participated in the proceedings without any issues.
Of the 18 Standing Committee seats, 17 have already been filled, with eight members from AAP and nine from BJP. The formation of the Standing Committee is crucial as it holds authority over key financial decisions that have been pending for over 20 months.
Municipal Secretary Shiva Prasad KV defended the ban on mobile phones, stating that under rule 51 (5) of the DMC Act, the prohibition was necessary to maintain the secrecy of voting, but that phones would be allowed after the voting process was completed.