NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday alleged that the nomination of 10 aldermen in MCD by LG VK Saxena was “unconstitutional”, evoking a sharp reaction from BJP.While AAP MLA Atishi claimed that the MCD commissioner sent the file of the nominated councillors directly to the LG bypassing the elected Delhi government, BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said as per the amended MCD Act, the reunified corporation was now under direct control of the central government.Addressing a press conference, Atishi claimed as per protocol that has been followed for decades now, the names of these nominated candidates were sent to the LG by the Delhi government through its urban development department.“But the ‘dirty tricks’ department of BJP decided to bring a change in this protocol and the list of nominated candidates was sent by MCD directly to the LG bypassing the Delhi government. The notification issued on the nomination is illegal as it has not followed the procedure established by law,” the Kalkaji MLA said.“BJP and the LG should stop making a mockery of the rules established by law,” she added.The AAP leader alleged that the reason for not following the procedure by BJP was to fill the position of the nominated members of MCD by its party workers so that they could interfere in the work of the corporation and its committees.Kapoor, however, said AAP was unnecessarily trying to play the victim card in every political issue. “AAP leaders have no respect for constitutional provisions. It is strange that MLA Atishi is alleging that the LG has bypassed the legal process in appointing 10 aldermen. But she has ignored the fact that the new legal provisions under the amended MCD Act after reunification of three corporations, the word government to which the MCD is now accountable is the Central government. The LG is very much empowered to nominate the aldermen,” Kapoor claimed.The Delhi BJP spokesperson added that despite BJP having a complete majority in MCD in 2017 elections, the Delhi government using its powers had sent its 30 party workers as aldermen in the three corporations.“Till last year, the AAP government did not give proportionate representation to BJP in the nomination of MLAs to MCD. It has been rectified by them this year under pressure from the incumbent LG,” Kapoor said.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/aap-bjp-in-war-of-words-over-nominated-members/articleshow/96746322.cms